(a) whether the Union Government is contemplating to teach
‘Yoga’ in Government sponsored schools for building
character and improving moral values;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the amount of funds sanctioned by UGC to the Government
of West Bengal in the financial year 2008-09 and 2009-2010
for the development of Universities; and
(d) the details of allocation of funds and utilization
therefrom by the Government of West Bengal?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(SMT D. PURANDESWARI)
(a)& (b): Yoga is one of the core components of health and
physical education that is a compulsory subject up to the
secondary stage in the Central Board of Secondary
Education curriculum.The National Curriculum Framework
(NCF) 2005 uses a holistic definition of health within which
physical education and Yoga contribute to the physical,
social,emotional and mental development of a child. In
accordance with NCF 2005, National Council of educational
Research and Training (NCERT) has developed syllabi for
health and physical education for all stages of school
education, while giving adequate space to Yoga.
(c)& (d): University Grants Commission (UGC) does not
provide grants directly to State Governments. During 2008-
2009 and 2009-2010 amounts of Rs. 5819.40 lakh and
Rs.4618.90 lakh were released by UGC to one central
University,nine State Universities and one deemed
university in West Bengal.In respect of these releases,
utilization certificates have been received by UGC to the
extent of Rs.2252.20 & Rs.4293.34 lakh respectively.