Kejriwal asks residents to sponsor yoga trainers
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday released a WhatsApp number and appealed to people to sponsor the salaries of trainers who are conducting free Yoga classes under the government ‘s ‘Dilli Ki Yogshala’ programme.
“A Yoga teacher gets a salary of Rs 15,000. Please contact us on WhatsApp at 7277972779 to indicate how many teachers’ salaries you wish to bear. Write the cheque in the name of the teacher only. Some people are willing to bear the entire cost, but I think that it would be more plausible if all Delhi residents come forward and join our endeavour to keep Yoga classes running. We had planned to provide free Yoga training to 17 lakh people in Delhi, but the LG and the BJP did not allow even 17,000 people learning Yoga for free. We have decided that together with the people of Delhi, we will not allow the Yoga classes to stop in any circumstances. I will arrange the funds in whatever way I can, but the trainers will be paid,” Kejriwal said at a press conference.
The Dilli ki Yogshala scheme was announced by chief minister Kejriwal on December 13, 2021 to provide free yoga instruction to the citizens of Delhi.According to the government till October 31 this year, nearly 17,000 people were learning fee Yoga at 600 locations, including public parks, across the city.
The Yoga classes scheme had emerged as yet another flashpoint between the lieutenant governor and the Delhi government with the latter alleging that the LG had not approved the continuation of the scheme. Officials in the LG office had earlier said that they did not receive any file seeking extension of the programme. Kejriwal on Saturday alleged that LG VK Saxena and the BJP were hurting the citizens by stopping the free classes.
“I was saddened, when a few days ago, the LG and the BJP attempted to stop the Yoga classes. These classes were organised to improve the health of our citizens and primarily assist those who were dealing with post -Covid complications. More than 17,000 people have so far benefitted from these classes. The BJP tried to snatch away this opportunity from the 17,000 people. Salaries of these yoga teachers were held back and they were asked to not take any more classes,” Kejriwal said.