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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
NATO's 5% pledge: Rearming the West or rebalancing the world
In an era where geopolitical boundaries are blurred and warfare has morphed from trenches to tech, NATO 's recent commitment to invest 5% of GDP annually in defence by 2035 sends a thunderous signal—not just to adversaries, but to allies questioning the alliance's strategic relevance. The Hague Summit Declaration, adopted by 32 member states, marked a pivotal moment in transatlantic security thinking. The question now is whether this is a forward-looking strategy or a reactionary bulwark clinging to the past paradigms. At the core of the declaration lies an emphatic reaffirmation of Article 5—the principle that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all NATO members. However, the real headline is the proposed ramp-up in defence and security-related spending: 3.5% of GDP earmarked for traditional defence infrastructure and capabilities, and an additional 1.5% for resilience, critical infrastructure protection, and innovation. This is a fundamental reset of NATO's budgetary posture, reflective of a world no longer anchored to the certainties of post-Cold War peace. The strategic rationale behind this move is evident in the literature. From Russia's protracted war in Ukraine to hybrid warfare tactics deployed through cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns, and economic coercion, the threats facing the Euro-Atlantic region are no longer just physical; they are systemic. However, the implications of NATO's new doctrine stretch far beyond Europe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo By including Ukraine's security under the umbrella of NATO's own, the alliance is signalling that Kyiv's stability is no longer peripheral—it is central to the European defence architecture. Although the declaration stops short of directly naming Russia as an aggressor, it unequivocally categorises it as a long-term threat. The political calculus here is clear: to maintain unity among diverse member states while advancing a credible deterrent posture. However, pledging 5% of GDP—especially in times of economic uncertainty, rising public debt, and shrinking fiscal room—will not be without domestic blowback. For many European countries, where defence budgets have long played second fiddle to social spending, the pivot will require not only financial reallocation but also political will. The path to 2035 will be fraught with parliamentary debates, economic trade-offs, and inevitable scrutiny from taxpayers questioning the utility of militarisation during peacetime. Live Events That said, NATO's blueprint smartly distinguishes between "hard power" and 'soft shield' spending. By allocating up to 1.5% for cyber defense , critical infrastructure, industrial innovation, and civil preparedness, the alliance acknowledges the multidimensional nature of modern warfare. Drones, AI, satellite technologies, and quantum encryption will define future battles. This is NATO's attempt to future-proof itself. Another compelling aspect of the declaration is its call to dismantle internal defence trade barriers and catalyse transatlantic industrial cooperation. The subtext? Europe's dependence on American defence systems must evolve into a mutual technological collaboration. With U.S. domestic politics becoming increasingly isolationist and polarised, especially in light of looming electoral uncertainties, Europe has no choice but to shoulder more of the strategic burden of NATO. The timing of this declaration cannot be ignored. This occurs at a time when questions are being raised about the longevity of American leadership and the cohesion of Western alliances. Populist politics, migration crises, climate-induced conflicts, and digital disruptions are redrawing the map of security concerns. In this light, NATO's 5% commitment is as much about deterrence as it is about staying relevant. However, for all its ambition, the declaration raises a philosophical question: can militarised investment alone secure peace in a world where most battles are fought in cyberspace, legislatures, and courtrooms? While NATO shores up its arsenal, adversaries weaponize currency systems, manipulate public opinion through AI-generated propaganda, and infiltrate supply chains. In such a scenario, defence must be defined not only by missiles and manpower but also by legal resilience, technological agility, and economic fortitude. In its closing remarks, the summit's declaration looks ahead—to Türkiye in 2026 and Albania thereafter. Symbolically, this eastward shift in NATO meeting venues reflects a changing strategic frontier. The frontlines are no longer confined to the Fulda Gap but extend into the Black Sea, Indo-Pacific, and digital cloud networks connecting us all. Ultimately, NATO's 5% pledge is more than just a budgetary item. It is a test of collective resolve in a fractured global order. If implemented wisely—with strategic clarity, equitable burden-sharing, and an eye on emerging threats—it could become a blueprint for securing liberal democracies in a multipolar, volatile world. But if the focus remains confined to tanks and treaties while ignoring the algorithmic and institutional battlefields of the 21st century, NATO risks building a fortress for yesterday's war The author is Department of Commerce, Assistant Professor and Research Supervisor, St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur, Kerala
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Carry out prompt, comprehensive inquiry into stampede: Puri's titular king to Odisha govt
Puri's titular king Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb on Sunday expressed shock over the stampede during the famed Rath Yatra and appealed to the Odisha government to immediately carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. The titular king, who is also the chairman of the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), urged the state government to take proper and immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of any such incident. "Shree Gajapati Maharaja has appealed to the state government to carry out a prompt and comprehensive inquiry regarding this most unfortunate incident and to take proper and immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents," his office said in a statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Deb said he was "shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the stampede last night near Shree Gundicha Temple in which three devotees lost their lives and many others were injured". He also offered prayers for the departed souls and conveyed his deep condolences to the members of the bereaved families.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Israel emerges stronger from Iran war, but risks blowback
Over the past two years, Israel has become more militarily dominant in the Middle East than at any time in its history. But its success has also laid the groundwork for future risks. Since the Oct. 7th, 2023, attack by Hamas, Israel has crushed the Palestinian group and brought Hezbollah — widely considered the world's most powerful militia — to its knees, crippling Tehran's regional proxy network. Within the last two weeks, it's dealt severe blows to its arch-enemy Iran, a country 75 times the size of Israel and with a population nine times bigger — and achieved a decades-long goal by bringing the US directly into the fight. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Its strikes killed a number of top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists, eliminated a big part of Tehran's missile arsenal and — with US help — damaged its nuclear sites. During the 12-day war, which ended with a US-brokered ceasefire this week — Israel had total control of Iran's airspace. These events reveal how the military and intelligence prowess of Israel, a country of 10 million people, is unmatched in the Middle East. It's increasingly assertive, building military positions beyond its borders in Syria and Lebanon as part of a new defense doctrine it says is needed to prevent another Oct. 7-style attack. Live Events But such moves have also opened the country to risks of blowback from regional partners wary of its assertiveness; pariah status in much of the world over its prosecution of the war in Gaza; and the possibility that Iran is merely biding its time before its true retaliation. Israel's decimation of Hamas and Hezbollah — both designated terrorist groups by the US and other governments — has 'altered the balance of power in the region,' said Michèle Flournoy, a former US under secretary of defense for policy and now the managing partner of WestExec Advisors. But 'its blatant disregard for civilian casualties in Gaza has significantly damaged its moral standing and international support.' International Backlash The repeated Israeli security victories have revived the political fortunes of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption and whose popularity plummeted after Hamas's attack. This week, he argued that the war with Iran will be studied in military academies and that Israel had 'placed itself in the first rank of the world's major powers.' Most analysts are less effusive, while acknowledging Israel's achievements on the battlefield when it comes to intelligence gathering. 'Israel has proven to be a regional military power,' said Amos Gilead, a retired Israeli general now at Reichman University in Tel Aviv. 'Is it a world power? I don't like to talk in such terms. The Israeli military is designed for self-defense.' Nevertheless, Israel is a lonely victor. There's a growing international consensus that Israel's campaign in Gaza must stop. Since Oct. 7, its military has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and sparked a hunger crisis, which has awoken young people across the Arab and broader world to the Palestinian cause. Images of injured children have prompted protests across the world and condemnations by traditional allies like the UK, France and Canada. Public opinion has even begun to shift in the US, its most stalwart supporter. A Gallup survey in March found only 46% of Americans expressed support for Israel — the lowest level in 25 years. Israel's policies also run the risk of emboldening radical forces across the region, creating future enemies, as well as making it more difficult to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. There are also economic costs and rising social divisions within Israel related to its expanded military might. The multi-front conflict of the past 20 months has strained the Israeli economy, causing investment to drop and leading to labor shortages with so many reservists called up for duty. Israel's military spending increased by 65% to $47 billion last year, second only to Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. To pay for that, Israel's borrowing and fiscal deficit have soared. The central bank governor, Amir Yaron, told Bloomberg on Wednesday that Israel needs to 'reassess its priorities' when it comes to civilian and defense spending. Bloomberg With all that spending and the reputational damage that the Gaza war has brought, Israel's victory is far from total. Iran has found itself humbled, but retains plenty of capacity to hit back. It can work with proxy forces in Iraq and Houthi militants in Yemen, who have disrupted Red Sea shipping with missile and drone assaults. There are also questions about how far Iran's nuclear program has really been set back, raising the possibility that it could still decide to make nuclear weapons. 'Iran has a voice too,' former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'They will retaliate at some point.'
