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Showing posts with label YOGA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YOGA. Show all posts

Sunday, 23 June 2019

07:07

ECOR Observed International Yoga Day

ECOR Observed International Yoga Day

ECOR OBSERVED INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
International Day of Yoga has been observed by East Coast Railway with wide scale popular participation by Railwaymen. General Manager, East Coast Railway Shri Vidya Bhushan gracing the occasion said that, Yoga is to keep the balance of human mind for developing self confidence and will help everyone to perform their duties towards themselves, family, work and for world to maintain peace and happiness.
Gracing the occasion, Guru Mahamandalacharya Swami Swarupananda Saraswati, Director of Satyananda Yoga Vidyalaya emphasised the importance of Yoga during modern trends of life style.
Meditation & lifestyle management experts have also participated in the Yoga session and given their valuable tips during performing Yoga. Prevention of life style diseases and Physical Medicine in recent life style have also been presented by Dr. S. C. Pradhan, Addl. Chief Health, Director of Mancheswar Railway Central Hospital, Dr. Bhubanananda Pani and Dr. B. P. Panigrahi, CEO, KIIMs, Bhubaneswar.
Earlier, in the morning, Addl. General Manager Shri Sudhir Kumar led the Team East Coast Railway to observe International Yoga Day at the Rail Vihar Community Hall in Bhubaneswar. Shri Kumar also administered pledge to all railwaymen.
SeniorRailway Officials actively participated in The Yoga session. The programme was coordinated by Shri P. C. Nayak, Principal Chief Personnel Officer of East Coast Railway.

Source:East Coast Railway
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Tuesday, 21 June 2016

08:04

No public holiday tomorrow; yoga voluntary for Govt employees

No public holiday tomorrow; yoga voluntary for Govt employees

There will be no public holiday and yoga will be voluntary for central government employees tomorrow, when the country observes second International Yoga Day.

"There will be no holiday and all government offices will remain open tomorrow," a senior official in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

He said the Centre has not made it mandatory for the employees to take part in yoga.

"It is voluntary. Necessary arrangements have been put in place to allow employees to attend yoga at various programmes being organised across the country," the official said.

There are about 50 lakh central government employees.

Over one lakh events have been planned in the country on second International Yoga Day. Of these, 10 regional-level mega events will be hosted in Varanasi, Imphal, Jammu, Shimla, Vadodara, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Bhubaneshwar and Hoshiarpur.

The main programme will be held in Chandigarh which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yoga day programmes will also be organised in 391 universities, 16,000 colleges and 12,000 schools across the country.
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Monday, 20 June 2016

07:44

Over 1 lakh Yoga programmes and 10 mega events planned across the country

Over 1 lakh Yoga programmes and 10 mega events planned across the country 

On the occasion of the “International Yoga Day” on 21st June, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) will, in collaboration with over a dozen noted social organizations, hold 1,00,260 Yoga programmes at different centres across the country, out of which 10 regional level mega events will be hosted by major cities of Varanasi, Imphal, Jammu,Vadodara, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Bhubaneshwar, Shimla and Hoshiarpur. 

The main programme will, however, be held at Chandigarh which will be attended by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

Announcing this at a press conference here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Department of Youth Affairs and all the affiliated youth wings have perhaps, for the first time, undertaken such a grand initiative to engage largest possible sections of population across the length and breadth of India, on a single day for a single theme.

Elaborating further, Dr Jitendra Singh said, even as more than 1,00,000 Yoga programmes will be held across the country, as many as 250 of such programmes will be held at district headquarters and around 1,00,000 Yoga programmes at village level with the collaboration of local youth clubs there. 

In addition, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that his Ministry will be organizing Yoga day programmes in 391 Universities, 16000 colleges and 12000 schools across the country. 

At the 10 locations of regional level mega events, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that for the last 4-5 days, regular Yoga practice is already being conducted by around 500 trainers at each centre. 

In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guiding spirit, the Department will try to ensure that these programmes are marked by an all-inclusive participation involving various social groups including NCC (National Cadet Corps), NSS (National Service Scheme), Patanjali, Art of Living, Bharatiya Yoga Sansthan, Brahma Kumaris and all other related organizations. 

Dr Jitendra Singh said, International Yoga Day is not only an occasion for all of us to remind ourselves about the well-being of mind and body, but this is also an occasion to celebrate the world’s acknowledgement of time-tested Indian tradition. He recalled that after taking over as Prime Minister on 26th May 2014, exactly after four months on September 27, 2014, Narendra Modi, while addressing the 69th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), put forward the proposal to adopt an International Yoga Day and, in less than three months, on December 11, 2014, in a historic decision, out of 193 members of UNGA, a record 177 unanimously passed a resolution to observe 21st June as International Day of Yoga. 

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and nature”. 

In the times to come, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will come out with several more innovative and path breaking decisions to make the youth of this country a part of India’s mainstream march ahead. 

Major General (Retd) Dilawar Singh, Director General of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and Dr. Girish Kumar Tuteja, Director of NSS (National Service Scheme) were also present on the occasion. 

Source:PIBNEWS


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Thursday, 16 June 2016

07:47

Ministry of Tourism celebrates International Yoga Day on June 21,2016

Ministry of Tourism celebrates International Yoga Day on June 21,2016

Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice having its origin in India, which aims to transform both body and mind; and on 11th Dec. 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga. 175 nations, including USA, Canada and China co-sponsored the resolution and it had the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA Resolution of such nature.

Ministry of Tourism is celebrating the 2nd International Day of Yoga on 21st June 2016 by hosting a FAM Tour for a group of 50 foreign delegates consisting of Tour Operators/ Travel Agents/ Media Persons/ Opinion Makers/ Scholars from 20 countries which are source markets and the markets that matter for promotion of Yoga and Wellness. This group of 50 delegates will split into 2 group, which will participate in Delhi and Chandigarh on 21st June, 2016, separately. Both the groups will then follow a tour program including visit to the wellness & spiritual centres in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Trivandrum, Cochin, Neyyar (Kerala), Pondicherry & Chennai.

Source:PIBNEWS
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Wednesday, 24 June 2015

07:13

Dr Harsh Vardhan Inspires IIT Students to Embrace the Yoga Life Says-“Yoga is Necessary to Achieve Complete Health –Physical, Mental, Social”

Dr Harsh Vardhan Inspires IIT Students to Embrace the Yoga Life Says-“Yoga is Necessary to Achieve Complete Health –Physical, Mental, Social” 

The Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, appealed to the country’s youth to embrace the “Yoga life” for ensuring themselves a lifetime of mental and physical fitness. 

Addressing students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur today, the Minister said, “I am a man of science and a surgeon by training in the allopathic branch of medicine. I assure you Yoga does not contradict science –it is science. I invite you young budding engineers to experiment with Yoga because soon you will realise that it qualitatively enhances your productivity, apart from making you a more sociable and healthy person.” 

He recalled being one among an elite group of participants at World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Kobe meeting of policy makers in 2000. “There was consensus that health is a state of physical, mental, social and spiritual well being of an individual, not merely freedom from disease and infirmities. To achieve that the world’s leading policy makers struck a consensus on Yoga being one of the potential indigenous solutions,” he stated. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan told the assemblage. “As engineers you must be aware that Germany is the world’s largest exporter of engineering goods. They make engines of the most superior quality there. What you perhaps didn’t know is that in Germany’s leading technological universities, students are introduced to Yoga and Sanskrit because they have found out that it makes young minds more creative and innovative for greater scientific productivity.” 

Hundreds of students, teachers and staff turned out for a special event at the campus on the occasion of the first United Nations “World Yoga Day”. The Minister’s presence bolstered their enthusiasm and they responded positively to the inherent message in the Prime Minister’s campaign, to popularise yoga on an unprecedented global scale. The eminent Yoga practitioner from Allahabad, Swami Anand Giri, gave a highly invigorating lecture with demonstrations on Yoga asanas. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “Yoga is India’s greatest and oldest gift to the world. It is not a ritual, but a scientific expression. Western medical science has woken up to the goodness of yoga as it treats the person behind the disease, not just the symptoms. Yoga also produces unique mental stability, makes a person more balanced in his perception and in Australia it is taught to prison inmates because it replaces the criminal mindset with positive energy.” 

The Minister pointed out that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had mainstreamed Yoga into the country’s public system. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a separate ministry has been created for Yoga –as part of AYUSH. It is part of the premier hospital system of the country –AIIMS – in six cities of India. 

“You are the cream of our student community. I am sure that Yoga has seated itself in your already deeply scientific consciousness. Let it be the fulcrum and guide your creative spirit. That is why this term ‘Yoga Life’ has been created,” he said. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan expanded the term –“Yoga Life” – to cover humankind’s responses to the problems be devilling mankind and the future of the planet. 

“Yoga is about unity – of the sun and the moon within you. If you take up the Yoga life, your body retains all the vigour of youth while your mind matures to absorb the concerns that shape progress. This happens only in individuals today, but once the Yoga Life becomes the establishment you will see remarkable changes in every sphere of society,” he said. 

The Minister also attended a large camp organised in Kharagpur town by the Nehru Yuva Kendra and Patanjali Peeth. Hundreds of people turned up in response to the Prime Minister’s call to celebrate the goodness of Yoga. 

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “The people of Bengal have a rich tradition in Yoga. Sri Aurobindo devoted his life for Yoga. His life is for all the highest expression of Yoga. If only we follow a small part of his example, the country will surely achieve its maximum potential.” 

He recalled the great propagation of Yoga’s wellness on an international scale by Paramahamsa Yogananda, another great Yogi from Bengal, in the first half of the 20th century. 

“The Autobiography of a Yogi”, written by Yogananda in the early 1940s is one of the greatest bestsellers of the 20th century. Dr Harsh Vardhan urged huge audience to read the book as it is believed to have transformed many lives. 

He said, “The great American president, Calvin Coolidge, embraced the Yoga Life after meeting Parmahamsa Yogananda. He became the United States’ premier Yogi and following his example thousands of ordinary Americans turned to Yoga. A huge Yoga centre was established in Los Angeles which still thrives.” 

Earlier, yesterday evening, Dr Harsh Vardhan, visited the “Science and Technology Museum” within the campus of IIT Kharagpur. He was shown around the place by Dr Partho Chakrabarti, Director, and was impressed with its remarkable exhibits showcasing the products of the research of the eminent seat of learning and inquiry. 

This was followed by a brainstorming session with the Director and Deans of different departments. He said that though IIT-Kharagpur was a leading centre of research under the IIT system, there was need for greater coordination and greater synergy with laboratories under the Centre of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MES). 

Dr Harsh Vardhan remarked, “I see here that you are implementing projects of international value, and some are even sponsored by CSIR, DST, DBT and MoES. I think that there should be better networking and more sophisticated coordination between the IIT system and the laboratories under the Ministry of Science and Technology.” 

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Tuesday, 23 June 2015

07:00

Railways to hire Experts in its 300 Training Centres on contract for Periodical Yoga classes to Staff & Officers

Railways to hire Experts in its 300 Training Centres on contract for Periodical Yoga classes to Staff & Officers

New Delhi: Sunday’s worldwide celebration of yoga is not likely to be a one-off event for Indian government employees. It’s all set to become part of daily life as various departments hire instructors to make learning yoga part of a sustained campaign. The Indian Railways (also the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) are among those seeking yoga teachers. Other ministries are likely to follow, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s enthusiastic support for the traditional Indian discipline. Officials told that several ministries are scouting for consultant trainers to help employees lead a stress-free life. There are about 48 lakh central government employees in the country across different ministries and affiliated institutions.

“We have made yoga part of the training curriculum of the National Academy for Training & Research in Social Security (NATRSS) and are looking for a yoga instructor to teach yoga and other stress-relieving exercises everyday,” said KK Jalan, central provident fund commissioner.

EPFO has sought applications from retired government officers to seek contractual employment as trainers and consultants in yoga. “The duties at the academy will involve conducting yoga sessions in training programmes, personal counseling of trainees, visit to the zonal training institutes and other offices of the EPFO and other duties assigned by the director,” said the June 9 notice.

Instructors could train staff on asanas that help prevent back aches, a common problem among those who sit in front of the computer for long hours. EPFO has a staff strength of 20,000.

NATRSS trained 5,600 EPFO employees last year besides conducting sessions for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The country’s largest employer Indian Railways, which has 13 lakh workers, has made yoga compulsory at all its training centres and plans to cover all its staff by 2020. Railways has 295 training centres for training its officers, loco pilots, technicians and those involved in other services.

“Training of railway staff is a mammoth task… So, we are looking at hiring yoga experts and institutions on contract to cater to the need of these centres,” a senior railway ministry official said, adding a notification inviting applications for yoga instructors has been issued.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) expects a spurt in demand for yoga instructors, both in India and abroad. “The increased focus on yoga by PM Modi and his government, coupled with the growing awareness about the traditional Indian ways of dealing with stress in the corporate sector, has improved job opportunities in yoga training with commensurate demand for trainers set to grow by 30-35% in a few years,”Assocham said in a paper released on Friday.
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Saturday, 20 June 2015

07:36

Yoga Day to Start Delhi Metro Early

New Delhi: In light of International Yoga Day celebrations on Sunday, Delhi Metro operations would start at the crack of dawn with the first train scheduled to leave all terminal stations at 4 am.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has extended the facility a day prior to the mega event also, as the ‘Prajapati Brahma Kumaries’ organisation has planned similar celebrations at Red Fort.

“Two extra trains will be run for public service from terminal stations of all Lines at 4 am and 4.15 am respectively on Saturday,” a Delhi Metro spokesperson said.

Special arrangement for ticketing will be done at Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk stations in view of the anticipated crowd at these stations.

On Sunday, trains would leave the terminal stations from all lines at 4 am and 4.30 am respectively.

At all the stations in the vicinity of Rajpath such as Race Course, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan, special arrangments for ticketing will be available.

However, the facilities would not be available at the Airport Express Line.
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Thursday, 18 June 2015

21:19

Mandatory Yoga Training for all officers/Staff of Indian Railways including RPF personnel

Mandatory Yoga Training for all officers/Staff of Indian Railways including RPF personnel

G.I., Min. of Railways, Railway Board, O.M.No.E(MPP)2015/3/10, dated 15.06.2015

Sub: Mandatory Yoga Training for all officers/Staff of Indian Railways including RPF personnel

Zonal Railways may kindly refer to Board’s letter No.E(MPP)/2000/19/1/Meditation dated 23.11.2001 (RBE No.231/2001), vide which Yogo training was introduced for trainees in the Railway Training Centres’. These instructions were reiterated and were made permanent vide Board’s letter No.E(MPP)2009/19/1/pt.(Meditation) dated 13.11.2003 (RBE No.194/2003).

It has been established that Yoga/Meditation courses help in improving levels of concentration, alertness and reduction in stress and hence with a view to provide greater thrust, it has been decided to cover all officers and staff including RPF personnel in the progromme, for general well being of employees. Further, in Budget 2015-16, it was emphasized that training in Yoga will be imported to the staff especially from RPF.

In the light of foregoing, Board has decided to include mandatory Yoga Training progrommes in all the Centralized Training Institutes and Non-Gazetted Training Centres including RPF Training Centres. Accordingly, all the training progrommes whether Initial, Refresher, Promotionol or structured training progrommes would provide for slots for Yoga Training as per details specified below:

Yoga Training for CG Employees

Accordingly, all Training Centers are advised to arrange these training progrommes. In case necessary, tie up may be mode with certified/Professional Yoga Centres/Trainers on payment basis as may be decided by the concerned General Managers of Zonal Railwoys, PUs and Heads of CTIs etc., in consultation with their Associate Finance under the Zonal Railways/CTIs budgetary powers. Necessary tie up as mentioned above may be finalized within 2 months and training on Yoga in terms of the aforesaid directions may be started immediately thereafter. There would be no exemption from attendance in this progromme unless there are adequate reasons to be accepted by Head of Training Institution personally.

As regards the batch size, the minimum batch size should be 20, however, where more numbers are proposed to be covered in a batch, the some should be decided in consultation with the trainer. In so for as RPF personnel are concerned, RPF Directorote hove alreody issued instructions vide their letter No.2013/Sec(E)/TRG(POL)-1/1 dated 19.3.2015. These instructions are subsumed and would form part of the aforesoid instructions for RPF personnel.

These instructions supersede all previous instructions on the subject of Yoga Training including the ceiling limit fixed for payment of remuneration to Yoga Instructors/Trainers, hired for the purpose.

As regards the number of officers/staff who are being imported Yoga Training, monthly statement showing total number of officers/staff and RPF personnel trained per month will have to be sent to the Board on a continuing basis on the training progrommes begin.

This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.


Authority: www.indianrailways.gov.in
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20:03

Railwaymen to perform yoga on Sunday

Railwaymen to perform yoga on Sunday

New Delhi: Railways, which has made yoga mandatory at all its training centres, has sought the participation of employees at a session to be held at Rail Bhawan here under the guidance of an expert on June 21.

According to a Railway Ministry circular, all employees including officials of the Ministry have been asked to attend an hour’s yoga session starting at 10 am on Sunday morning in accordance with the spirit of the International Day of Yoga.

However, the participation in this is voluntary, it said.

Railways had earlier made yoga mandatory at all its 295 training centres across the country and plans to cover all its employees by 2020.

“Steps are being taken for providing mandatory yoga training at all railway training centres to cover all employees by 2019-20,” Railway Board Member (Staff) Pradeep Kumar has said.

Railways has about 295 training centres for imparting training to its officers, loco pilots, guards, technicians and other services’ employees across the country.

As per the action plan, now yoga has become compulsory as part of training for which instructors are being hired.

Railways have issued instructions to all our zonal headquarters, divisions, field units and centres to be part of the yoga camp on June 21.
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Tuesday, 16 June 2015

22:26

Indian Prime Minister Modi was signed in Beijing For China Yoga College

China gets its first yoga college after PM's visit

BEIJING: The first yoga college in China has been established at the Yunnan University of Nationalities in Kunming. This follows an agreement between the Indian and Chinese governments, which was signed in Beijing during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The two countries are also jointly organizing a massive 5-day yoga training camp in Chengdu city, where nearly 1,000 Chinese students will be trained by visiting Indian gurus. The camp which will take place between June 17 and 21 will be attended by 20 yoga teachers from India.

READ ALSO: Modi's Yoga Day grips India, and 'Om' Meets 'Ouch!' 

"The university has confidence to build the college into an influential brand with its own characteristics, a platform for cultural exchange and a bridge for Sino-Indian friendship," Peng Jinhui, president of the university, said at the inaugural ceremony on Saturday. 

The establishment of a college is expected to help standardize the teaching and practice of yoga in China. Students would be able to obtain a proper graduation certificate before some of them opt for advance training to become teachers themselves. At present, many of the yoga teachers in China have had limited training, sources said.

READ ALSO: If modified, Muslims have no problem with yoga: Madani 

"There is a lot of enthusiasm about yoga in China. All that is required is to guide the students to practice yoga in the correct way," Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh, a Mumbai based disciple of the late guru, BKS Iyenger, told TNN from Chengdu where he will be engaged in training. 

The college, which has been established as part of a cooperation agreement between YUN and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, will start enrolling students after August, according to Fan Jing, director of international affairs at YUN. 

YUN has a long-term history of cooperation and cultural exchanges with India. It is one of eight institutions in China, and the only one in Southwest China, offering Hindi as a language major, Fan said. Its students have studied at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India in Gujarat during the time when Modi was the chief minister, he said. 

"The arrival of our students was covered by the local media, and Modi met our students at that time. So he knew our school," Fan said. "The Chinese students President Xi Jinping met during his visit to India visit last year were mainly from our school."

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Monday, 8 June 2015

11:39

Indian Railways to observe ‘Yoga Day’ on June 21

New Delhi: Indian Railways has issued orders to its over 13 lakh employees across the country to turn up at office at 9 a.m. on the International Yoga Day on June 21 and perform Yoga as all railway offices will remain open on forenoon on the day despite being a Sunday.

In a letter to all 16 zonal heads, PSUs and others, R R Prasad, Executive Director (Training & Manpower Planning) Railway Board has said that since it would be the first occasion for the celebration, it has been decided that lndian Railways may celebrate June 21, 2014 as the lnternational Yoga Day in a big way befitting the occasion and to spread awareness.

To observe the day, the railway has ordered that all offices will open on June 21 in the forenoon and officials may be directed to report at 9 a.m. and even there will be prize distribution to best practitioners of yoga.

It has called senior officials to organize Pranayam, Meditation, Yoga demonstrations by engaging, professional Yoga trainers and arranging mass participation by employees at 9am to 10am at all Zonal Headquarters, divisional Headquarters, production units, major workshops, depots and other units including training institutes.

“Arrange for show casing of promotional films on yoga and distribution of educational and communicational material on yoga, including pulling up posters to give wide publicity and coverage for the event,” said the order.

Central government is organising a mega event at Rajpath on the occasion of first International Yoga Day on June 21 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his cabinet colleagues, celebrities and over 40,000 people will participate. The government plans to register the event in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest number of people performing asanas at a time.

Ministry of Railways have already issued Policy earlier in 2014 regarding participation of Indian Railways personnel in Meditation/Yoga/Spiritual and other related programmes.  As part of the same, Special Casual Leave upto a maximum of nine (09) days inclusive of four (04) days journey time was allowed once in a year for once such programme, which would be granted by the respective Controlling Officers to willing employees and, Special Pass (as per entitlement) would be given once in a year to such Railway employee who has been granted SCL by the Controlling Officer – all subject to the convenience of the Administration.

Railways has now decided to not to limit it to just one day and has asked that it may be followed by a workshop on the usefulness of yoga through Professional Yoga practitioners giving a discourse and demonstration on the usefulness and health and spiritual benefits of yoga.  It has been observed by Railways that those who have been in Yoga practice have higher levels of productivity and hence it has been decided to promote Yoga in official functions, said the Railway Board official.

And to encourage the employees, railways called for Intra-Railway and Infra – Division and Infra -Workshop prizes may be distributed to the best practitioners of yoga.
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Wednesday, 27 May 2015

11:48

Western Railway initiates ‘Yoga’ for Motormen to avoid Germanwings-like incident

Western Railway initiates ‘Yoga’ for Motormen to avoid Germanwings-like incident

Spurred into action after a WR staffer wrote to the authorities saying that a motorman with “suicidal tendencies” was driving trains and could cause an incident like the Germanwings plane crash, the railways will organise yoga sessions for employees, starting today

Mumbai: The Western Railway authorities were spurred into action after one of their staff members wrote to them alleging that a motorman with “suicidal tendencies” was driving trains and could cause an incident like the March plane crash, which its co-pilot is suspected to have deliberately caused in a suicidal act.

The matter came to light when Vandana Gupta, a Western Railway employee, wrote on May 13 to the GM of Western Railway, alleging that a motorman on Western Railway was not in a “proper mental state” and had threatened to commit suicide once. Gupta also alluded to the plane crash involving a German aircraft, which was caused by the co-pilot with suicidal tendencies.

In response to the letter, the railway authorities have now decided to organise yoga sessions for their motormen as well as other employees. In fact, the first session is expected to begin today.

“Instructors from Brahma Kumaris (a spiritual organisation) will be teaching our staff yoga in batches, starting tomorrow (today),” said Shailendra Kumar, divisional railway manager (Mumbai), Western Railway. Starting 10 am, batches of 40-odd people will attend these classes.

“We will start with people from the age group of 50 years and above. The detailed schedule is being planned,” said Narendra Patil, chief PRO, Central Railway. Though not mandatory, officials are looking forward to their staff participating actively.

These sessions are likely to take place at the auditorium or office spaces of railways, wherever available. Officials said these would be one-hour sessions with a schedule for asanas, meditation and other exercises, which will be taught depending on the age and health condition of the staff members.

For those who are not able to do the asanas, physiotherapy sessions will be provided. The exact modalities and details are yet to be finalised, but the programme will kick off today.

‘Much needed’

The authorities agreed that their staff is under stress, lack mental peace and may have other psychological ailments. Moreover, the idea of having yoga has trickled down from Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who recently asked all 17 zones of Indian Railways to have such programmes.

Motormen reiterated that they have a high-risk job involving a lot of stress and stated yoga could help them get mental peace. “There are people who cross tracks without even bothering about an approaching train. The process of having cement concrete wall along the tracks to prevent trespassing too hasn’t been effective.

Even a single accident affects our mind a lot,” a motorman told mid-day, on condition of anonymity. Usually these motormen work six hours a day, after which they will likely attend these yoga sessions. In fact, the motormen have an auditorium of their own in Santacruz, where such sessions would occasionally take place.

“There is a need for routine physical and mental fitness check-ups for us. We are asked to taken an alcohol test before driving the train, but nothing much is done when it comes to ensuring we are in sound mind,” said another motorman.

Motormen undergo a psychoanalysis test before being inducted into the railways, but do not take the test thereafter unless they are involved in an accident or breach a railway rule on the job.

The Germanwings plane crash

An aircraft of Germanwings, Lufthansa Airlines’ low-cost airline, carrying 144 passengers and six crew members took off on March 24 from Barcelona and was bound for Dusseldorf in Germany. Mid-flight, the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, locked the pilot, Patrick Sondenheimer, out of the cockpit and began a 38,000-foot descent. He crashed it into the French Alps 100 km northwest of Nice. Lubitz had been declared unfit to work on that day and had previously been treated for suicidal tendencies
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