New Delhi--The government has made daily yoga compulsory for the 10 lakh-strong central armed police forces (CAPF). Personnel posted in areas hit by left wing extremism as well as those deployed along the border with Pakistan will now have to practice yoga as part of their “daily physical exercise”.
The Centre has also sought a compliance report from each force.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a circular on May 26 in this regard to the Director Generals of all seven paramilitary forces — CRPF, CISF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles.
“DGs are requested to issue appropriate instructions to all field formations to include yoga as a part of daily physical exercise on priority and submit the action taken report to this ministry,” the circular issued by the MHA said.
CRPF Director General Prakash Mishra called “it a good move on the part of the government to make yoga a part of the daily activity of jawans”.
“We already have yoga in our training programme for fresh recruits. Now, it will be across field formations,” Mishra said.
But the chief of one of the paramilitary forces, who did not wish to be named, pointed out that the move was not “practical”.
“Yoga can calm the mind but our focus is more on physical fitness. For our jawans to be alert, they need to follow strict cardio exercises, which yoga cannot fulfil. We will take up the matter with the MHA and request them to make yoga a choice, and not compulsory,” the officer said.
The MHA directive applies to all battalions and field units, and commanding officers are responsible for sending the compliance reports to the ministry.
INDIAN EXPRESS
