DYFI supports Zumba classes in Kerala schools
The Kerala unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has offered its support to the State Education department's ongoing initiative offering Zumba classes to school students.
DYFI State secretary V.K. Sanoj told the media here on Saturday (June 28, 2025) that the Opposition from certain sections to the programme could be seen against the backdrop of the alleged attempts to create communal discord in society and destroy the secular fabric of Kerala. He claimed that Zumba was not a creation of the Left. It is being practised across the globe as a fitness programme. Mr. Sanoj pointed out that it was introduced in schools to ward off the threat of substance abuse among children. There was no use of skimpy clothes during the sessions, he said, adding that some people were trying to deliberately link it with religion.
Mr. Sanoj also blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its Hindutva politics for stoking a controversy related to the Suresh Gopi-starrer Janaki vs State of Kerala.
The DYFI leader criticised the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the students' wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, for opposing the Zumba sessions. He asked its leaders to name the school where students performed Zumba wearing skimpy clothes. Wondering if the MSF's ideals were suited for the 'AI age', he accused it of spreading misinformation.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Despite opposition, Kerala govt to go ahead with Zumba: Minister
Kozhikode: Govt is determined to proceed with its programme of conducting Zumba sessions for students before classes, despite opposition from religious outfits, said general education minister V Sivankutty on Saturday. Addressing a news conference in Kozhikode, Sivankutty said such opposition could introduce more harmful poison into society than drugs and instead of improving the education sector, it could fuel communalism and division. He said there was opposition from certain quarters against implementing physical activities like Zumba, aerobics and yoga in state schools. It is important to understand that these activities are part of anti-drug awareness initiatives, he added. Several Muslim organisations opposed the introduction of Zumba dance sessions in schools as part of general education department's anti-drug campaign, claiming that it undermined morality and promoted boys and girls dancing together. Sivankutty said activities conducted in schools were light exercises and students performed in their uniforms. According to Right to Education (RTE) Act, students must participate in govt-recommended educational processes and parents didn't have a choice in the matter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon | Paras Floret Low-Rise Flats Paras The Florett Book Now Undo Teachers are obligated to follow the department's directives as per conduct rules. Addressing objections from certain groups on perceived issues with dress codes during Zumba, Sivankutty said that no one was asking students to wear scanty clothing. He pointed out that while protests and suppressions against dress codes, including hijabs, occurred in various states, progressive movements have adopted a high democratic cultural stance. "However, some organisations here are taking positions that favour majority communalism. In a society like Kerala, which thrives on unity, such positions only encourage majority communalism," he said. Engaging in physical activities helps children develop mental and physical vitality, health and positive thinking, said Sivankutty. "This positively influences their studies and personal development. Therefore, it is essential to promote such healthy activities," he said. "Govt places significant importance on physical education in Kerala, where lifestyle-related diseases are prevalent. Regular physical participation primarily aims to effectively prevent diseases, reduce mental stress, alleviate anxiety and increase happiness. It also helps develop discipline, perseverance, goal awareness, decision-making abilities, and problem-solving skills in children. Participation in games teaches about rules and etiquette and enhances qualities like honesty, fairness and respect for the law," the minister added. He added that key components of health-related physical fitness, such as cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, are enhanced through activities like walking, jogging, running, swimming, cycling and dancing. Aerobic dance, Zumba dance, and freestyle dance are included in this category, he added. "The rhythmic and continuous movements in dance stimulate blood flow throughout the body, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to all organs and cells. This helps prevent conditions like heart disease and lowers blood pressure. Therefore, regular engagement in long-duration physical activities, including various types of dance, is highly beneficial for improving cardiovascular and respiratory endurance," the minister said.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Criticism is absolutely untrue": CPI(M)'s MA Baby backs Zumba in Kerala schools
Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], June 28 (ANI): CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said on Saturday backed the Kerala Government's plan to introduce Zumba in schools and said the backlash is 'absolutely untrue' 'This dance form is practised in over 180 countries... It is important for a sound mind and a sound body... The criticism is absolutely untrue. I have seen some videos of participants, they are fully dressed... The State Education Minister has already stated the government would like to proceed with it... Religious orthodoxy should not be brought into the education field...' Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday strongly defended the inclusion of Zumba dance in schools, stating that raising objections to such activities would inject poison that is more deadly than drugs into society. Responding to the criticism, Minister Sivankutty said, 'No one has asked children to wear minimal clothes. Children are wearing school uniforms and performing this.' 'Engaging in sports will help in developing mental and physical vitality, health and positive thinking in children. This will have a positive impact on their studies and personality development. Therefore, it is essential to encourage such healthy activities,' the minister stated. He added that Zumba and other physical activities played a crucial role in developing children's mental and physical health, and encouraged positive thinking and personality development. The Minister also referred to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, saying, 'According to RTE, children must participate in the learning processes prescribed by the government. Parents have no choice in the matter,' he clarified. On the role of educators, he stressed that teachers were bound by the directives of the education department. 'According to the conduct rules, the teacher is obliged to do what the department prescribes,' Sivankutty said. He further warned that communalising such issues would disrupt Kerala's long-standing tradition of social harmony. 'In a society like Kerala, where people live together in harmony, such stances will only encourage the majority communalism,' he added. His remarks came after the state Education Department recently planned to teach Zumba in all schools as part of efforts to drive students away from drug abuse and violence, and to improve their physical and mental fitness. Last year, ahead of the start of the current academic year, the Education Department provided training to teachers as part of their annual refresher programmes. Earlier in the day, Muslim groups in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram raised strong objections after the state education department introduced Zumba dance in schools, stating that they couldn't accept girls and boys intermingling, dancing together, or wearing minimal clothing. The move, as part of its anti-drug campaign, aimed at helping students manage stress through physical activity, drew criticism for allegedly promoting indecent intermingling of boys and girls. The backlash began after TK Ashraf, a teacher and General Secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, posted on Facebook that he and his son would not participate in the programme. 'Cannot accept this, and my son and I will not participate in this,' Ashraf wrote in a brief but direct statement opposing the initiative. Soon after, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama leader Nassar Faizy Koodathai also posted, calling the Zumba sessions inappropriate and a violation of students' rights. (ANI)
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
KSU supports Zumba dance in schools
The Kerala Students Union (KSU) on Saturday offered full support to the government's well-meaning work to curb the spread of addictive substances. Amid opposition from some Muslims groups to introducing Zumba dance in schools as part of a broader anti-drug campaign, Aloshious Xavier, State president of the KSU, said there's no need for controversy over the State government's well-intentioned initiatives against addiction. 'Zumba dance is popular in the State and there's nothing unethical about it. The KSU belives that the controversy is unwarranted,' he said. However, he added that Zumba dance or seizures of contraband drugs from a few cine stars would not suffice to resolve the serious social crisis posed by drug abuse in the student community. 'It requires a deeper intervention,' he added.
