NEW DELHI: The celebrations for the International Yoga day is expected to cost the exchequer around Rs 15 crore. The cost has been slashed to half since last time, this time around the main event which is taking place in Chandigarh, has been advertised less in comparison to last year when it was celebrated for the first time.
The Ayush ministry which is the nodal agency for the mega event has been making arrangements to make the second innings of the yoga day a success countrywide.
The ministry secretary, Ajit M Sharan, told this newspaper that, “The cost for the whole event is Rs 15 crore, this includes the cost of mats, LED screens, PR for the event and all the other sundry expenses for the International Yoga day.”
The Ayush Ministry which had faced flak for the exorbitant cost of the mats used in the 2015 international Yoga Day event, has capped its budget to Rs 15 crore for the celebration this year. For the main event in Chandigarh, the ministry has shelled out Rs 7 crore.
As per reports, the mats used for the event at Rajpath cost around Rs 96,000 this year Chandigarh will require a similar amount as 35,000 people are expected to do yoga with the PM.
As per sources in the NDMC and the Ayush Ministry, the main costs for the event have been for advertising and PR of the event. “The mats, t-shirts and other paraphernalia, doesn’t cost much. The main cost is for the advertisement on all platforms,” said a senior official.
The event which has been in news since a while for the controversial reasons, has been keeping the New Delhi Municipal Council and Ayush Ministry officials on their toes to get the arrangements in place. The NDMC has made arrangements in the Central Park and other radial roads connecting CP.
AIMPLB objects to making yoga mandatory in schools
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly objected to making the participation of schools compulsory in the International Yoga Day celebrations and has asked Muslims to stay away from the event.
The Board had firmly opposed the involvement of Muslim children in the Yoga Day last year too but now the Board members feel that they may have to seek legal redressal since the Modi government has failed to take cognisance of their objections.
“This is an attack on the constitutional framework and against the spirit of democracy. Muslim children should not be forced to attend the Yoga programmes and those who do participate—unka Allah hi malik hai”, said Mr Zafaryab Jilan, senior member of the AIMPLB.
The AIMPLB has been strongly opposed to the inclusion of ‘Surya Namaskar’ in schools and said such programmes amount to interference in religious freedom.
