PANAJI
The State government has made a provision of 14 days special leave for government employees to undergo Vipassana training and some have begun availing the training offered free of cost at the training centres of Goa Vipassana Trust (GVT).
The Vipassana Trust claims these meditation techniques were rediscovered by Gautama Buddha over 2500 years ago and were taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills.
The Trust claims that Buddha’s non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation.
“Many people along with some government servants are taking benefit of the Vipassana training,” said a volunteer at Goa Vipassana Trust, while speaking on condition of anonymity.
The volunteer, however, refused to disclose the number of government servants who attended the course thus far.
"Only a month has passed since the government issued a memorandum to allow 14 days leave for the Vipassana course. The response from government employees is slowly picking up. It depends on the interest of the employees and availability of time.”
On March 25, 2022, Under Secretary (Personnel II) Nathine Araujo had issued a notification that a 14-day special leave can be sanctioned once in three years and six times in the entire service to attend Vipassana course organised by the Goa Vipassana Trust, Porvorim.
As per notification, all Group A, B officers, section officers in the Secretariat and superintendents outside secretariat and all Group C employees can avail the benefit of the Vipassana training once in three years and six times during the entire service.
The government servant has to get approval from the leave sanctioning authority and for that, an application must be submitted along with acceptance of nomination from Goa Vipassana Trust.
After completion of training, government employees have to submit the certificate issued by the institute to the effect that they have completed the training.
The government has officially promoted the training by Goa Vipassana Trust through the issued circular.
"Goa Vipassana Trust has introduced Vipassana training as an effective instrument for change and reform in government at all levels. Vipassana, an ancient and scientific meditation technique of India, is non-sectarian and can be practised by all regardless of religion, caste, creed or nationality. There are no fees for the training,” says the notification.
When contacted, Prashant Devidas, President of Goa Government Employees' Association (GGEA), said they have come across such government circular.
“However, all government servants cannot go and reside in the centre for the training. Whether to sanction such leave to the government servant is prerogative of the head of the department,” said Devidas.
Devidas said government officers have lot of stress at work and many of them above 40 years are suffering health problems like diabetes, blood pressure problem and other problems.
“Every day, the GGEA gives half an hour of yoga training for government servants at 11 sub-centres of the association. There is a good response from government servants for such Yoga classes,” he said.
