Ayush wants satellite images of yoga events
After weather forecast, communications, navigation system etc, government now plans to make use of satellite imagery to get a sense of how many people participated in the International Day of Yoga (IDY) event across India on June 21.
The Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) ministry has contacted Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the satellite imagery of the main hourlong event — from 7am to 8am.
“We have written to the ISRO chief and asked him if he could help us in mapping the event participation between 7am and 8am from across the country using their satellite. He is yet to formally respond to our request but he has given us in principle approval,” said Rajesh Kotecha, special secretary, Ayush.
Since its inception in 2015, IDY main event, wherein select postures as part of the standard yoga protocol developed for the occasion are performed, have taken place in Delhi, Chandigarh and Lucknow. Close to 50 thousand people have participated in each event, and this year, too, a huge turnout is expected at the main event, scheduled to be held at Dehradun in Uttarakhand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the main event, that will be held at the Forest Research Institute grounds.
“Apart from the main event, yoga protocol is observed by individual states at a predesignated venue, and even in our embassies abroad. As per our estimates, about 10 crore people had participated last year across the globe. We are expecting nearly 100% increase this year,” said Shripad Yesso Naik, Ayush minister.
Apart from the hour-long common protocol on the day, yoga training in districts, setting up of neighbourhood yoga parks and state-level fests are also planned as part of the event line up.
The ministry has also developed a yoga protocol for 40 plus women in consultation with Indian Menopause Society (IMS).
“We have made some innovations this year and taking into account health conditions and needs of peri-, pre- or post-menopausal women. The postures will help these women deal with the changes that their bodies are undergoing,” said Kotecha.
The Goa Church on Tuesday tried to tone down the sharp criticism of the political environment in India in Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao’s annual pastoral letter, with a senior official at the Bishop’s House insisting that “one or two statements” made by the top church functionary were taken out of context.
“One or two statements of the Bishop have been taken out and I will say taken out of context and made an issue out of. My thing is this, we do not make any further comments and explanations of the letter.
“If you want you read the (pastoral) letter online and try to understand the context why it is being said, what is said,” secretary to the Bishop, Father Joaquim Loiola Pereira told reporters.
The pastoral letter, which was formally released by Ferrao on Sunday, had said that the Indian Constitution was in danger and that a “new trend” of mono-culturalism, which demands uniformity in what and how one eats, dresses, lives and even worships, was putting human rights at risk.
“At the time of elections, the candidates confuse the minds of many people by making false promises. And the people, on their part, often sell their precious vote for selfish, petty gain ....
“In this context, particularly as the general elections are fast approaching, we must strive to know our Constitution better and work harder to protect it.
“Today, our Constitution is in danger, (it is a) reason why most of the people live in insecurity,” Ferrao said in his pastoral letter for 2018-19 which was formally released on Sunday but circulated only on Monday.
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