PONDA
In a bid to clamp down on agencies and persons misusing yoga for dubious purposes, Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik has said all yoga instructors in Goa and across the country would be subjected to an exam by the government to be certified and recognised as instructors.
Stating that the government has taken serious note of malpractices by unrecognised yoga instructors, Naik has warned that those imparting yoga courses without a certification from the government would face stringent action.
“Not only in Goa, but yoga instructors and teachers across India who practice without a certification from the government of India will be barred from practicing yoga. An exam will be made compulsory in this regard,” said Naik.
He was reacting to public outcry in Pernem taluka over the growing number of massage parlours illegally operating along Pernem's coast, following the arrest of a yoga instructor at Korgao on charges of sexually assaulting a US national and other allegations of molestation.
Speaking exclusively to The Goan from New Delhi, Naik said: “Those who don’t possess a certificate from the Quality Council of India (QCI) will face legal action if they found teaching yoga to others.”
“The AYUSH ministry has constituted a board in regard to the certification for practice. Yoga instructors, teachers and yoga gurus will have to complete a course designed by QCI and only if they pass the test will they be given certificates to teach yoga.”
“Even teachers, instructors and gurus from ashrams like those headed by Baba Ramdev or Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be subjected to these exams,” said the union minister.
Naik explained that the idea to enforce the certification was aimed at curbing malpractices in the name of yoga and to enforce some standard practices in the ancient discipline.
“Every institution has its own style of yoga and hence, efforts are being made to bring in some standardisation in the discipline,” said Naik.
“Earlier, there was no authenticity in yoga and every one tried to follow their own version of yoga. Now, we have taken this issue very seriously. We will not consider any certificate other than that issued by the Quality Council of India. Those who practice without credentials from the QCI will face stringent action,” he added.
Asked what action would be taken on ‘massage parlours’ who run on the pretext of offering ayurvedic treatment, Naik said: “All such practices will come under the scanner of the government and nobody will be allowed to misuse or abuse yoga or ayurveda for dubious or illegal purposes.”
The union minister admitted that incidents such as the one at Korgao-Pernem had tarnished the reputation of yoga and ayurveda in Goa and across the country. “Hence, new rules are necessary to curb such malpractices,” he said.
