"We thank the government for promoting Zumba in schools," says Kerala School teacher
The initiative has been included in the school curriculum with the objective of enhancing physical fitness and supporting the mental well-being of students.
While speaking to ANI, Sangeetha C said, 'We are very excited to have Zumba in our school. The children need physical fitness. We thank the Kerala government for promoting Zumba in schools...'
A student from the same school, Aleeda Mariya, shared similar sentiments. 'We are excited to be a part of the Zumba initiative brought by the Kerala government. We enjoy doing it. It is fun to do this,' she said.
This program is part of the anti-drug campaign in schools in Kerala, aimed at helping students manage stress through physical activity. However, the initiative has faced criticism for allegedly encouraging inappropriate intermingling of boys and girls.
Speaking to ANI, Roma Mansoor, a certified International Zumba Fitness instructor, said, 'I am happy to say that the Kerala government has taken initiative to promote Zumba in schools. It is a great initiative because nowadays children are addicted to many things that ruin their mindset. Zumba can help them relax their mind...It will help the children to increase their confidence. As it is a calorie-burning workout, it is a good move for weight management also...'
Earlier on June 28, Muslim groups in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram raised strong objections after the state education department introduced Zumba dance in schools, stating that they can't accept girls and boys intermingling, dancing together, or wearing minimal clothing.
The education department, on the other hand, defended its decision, saying the Zumba sessions were voluntary and were introduced under a statewide initiative to help students cope with academic pressure and discourage drug abuse.
Meanwhile, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty 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. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
3 hours ago
- India Gazette
JNUSU president hospitalised amid ongoing hunger strike over PhD admissions, hostel issues
ANI 08 Jul 2025, 02:33 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Nitish Kumar was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital on Monday night after he complained of severe chest pain. Kumar, along with several students, has been on an indefinite hunger strike for over a week, demanding reversal of recent policy decisions related to PhD admissions and hostel accommodations. In a statement, the JNUSU said, 'We demand immediate attention to his health and the just demands of the students. The administration's silence in the face of a serious health emergency is unacceptable.' The union said Kumar had gone without food for several days as part of the protest, and his condition deteriorated rapidly. The indefinite hunger strike began on June 26, with students demanding the reinstatement of JNU's in-house entrance exam (JNUEE) for PhD admissions instead of relying solely on the UGC-NET and CUET mechanisms. Students have also demanded the withdrawal of eviction notices issued to PhD scholars and the assurance of hostel accommodation until the completion of thesis submission. While the university has stated that financial and logistical constraints make it difficult to hold separate entrance exams for all departments, it has agreed to conduct JNUEE only for Cinema Studies and Korean Studies. Admissions to other PhD programmes will be based on national eligibility tests. The administration has also announced a second PhD admission cycle in December and agreed to extend hostel stay for scholars in the final stages of submission. Despite these steps, the JNUSU has alleged that the administration remains unresponsive to the broader set of student concerns. Several students participating in the protest have reported health complications. The union has reiterated its demand for a dialogue with the administration and warned that it will intensify the agitation if the demands remain unmet. (ANI)
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- India Gazette
Mumbai: Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik discharged from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital
Mumbai (Maharshtra) [India], July 7 (ANI): Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, was discharged from Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on Monday, following a successful surgery. Expressing gratitude following his discharge, Patnaik took to the social media platform X and wrote, 'I would like to thank the entire medical team of @KDAHMumbai and GangaWebteam for providing excellent medical service and taking great care of me pre-surgery and post-surgery. Heartfelt thanks to everyone from #Odisha and outside for their wishes and prayers for my health. Jai Jagannatha.' Speaking in Bhubaneswar, BJD Vice-President Debi Prasad Mishra told ANI that Patnaik had travelled to Mumbai on June 20 for the medical procedure. 'People of Odisha are very glad to know that their beloved leader, Naveen ji has come out of Ambani hospital (Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital) in Mumbai. He had been to Mumbai on 20th June for the he has come out of the hospital,' he said. BJD's Mishra further added,' People are very eager to see him in Odisha at Naveen is a very successful operation. He has been discharged from the hospital and will remain in Mumbai for a few days for physiotherapy and other necessary treatments, as advised by the doctors. He will come back soon, hopefully...' Meanwhile, on July 3, as the state climbed to fifth place in the national school education rankings for 2023-24, the former CM expressed his happiness on social media, crediting the 5T initiative for the transformation. The previous Biju Janata Dal government had transformed about 7000 schools to unleash new aspirations and open new horizons for school students. In a post on X, former CM Naveen Patnaik shared, 'Glad to share that Odisha has earned 5th rank nationally in School Grading System, as per Performance Grading Index (PGI-2.0) Report released by Government of India. Odisha has achieved score of 595.6 and secured PRACHESTA-3 grade for the academic year 2023-24, up from 14th in 2019. The PGI 2.0 evaluates school education through 73 indicators across two categories: Outcomes and Governance & Management.' 'Under our #5T initiative, we transformed about 7000 schools to unleash new aspirations and open new horizons for school students. We always believed that #NewOdisha will be built by empowering every child with the power of education. Glad that the robust foundation for government school education helping students excel. Thank all the teachers, parents, administrators and support staff for the huge transformation. #OdishaLeads,' he shared. (ANI)
India Gazette
7 hours ago
- India Gazette
Provide Rs 10 lakh compensation to victim's kin, cancel hospital's license involved in 'fake doctor' case: NHRC tells MP Govt
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday said that it has found several irregularities in the case of a fake doctor working as a Cardiologist at Mission Hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh. The Human Rights Commission stated that after conducting a probe into the matter, it has made several recommendations to the Madhya Pradesh government and has sought a report within four weeks. It has further recommended that the Madhya Pradesh government shall pay Rs 10 lakh each as relief to the next of kin of all seven patients who died following treatment by the fake Cardiologist at this hospital. 'After its enquiry, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India has found several irregularities in the case of a fake doctor working as a Cardiologist at Mission Hospital in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh. Accordingly, it has made several recommendations to the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the Centre, seeking action taken reports within four weeks. The Commission had registered the case on the basis of a complaint on 28th March, 2025, and conducted its enquiry besides seeking reports from the concerned State authorities on the matter,' NHRC said in a release. 'The Commission has recommended to the Government of Madhya Pradesh, through its Chief Secretary, that it pay Rupees 10 Lakh each as relief to the next of kin of all seven patients who died following treatment by the fake Cardiologist at this hospital. The Commission has also recommended cancellation of the license of the Mission Hospital until the final disposal of the matter, besides issuing necessary directions to officials to inspect all Cath labs, which are functional in Madhya Pradesh,' it added. On April 7, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that his government will take strict action in the case and highlighted that the State government would not make any delay in taking action against such cases and instructed that if there is any other such case in the State, the health department should take strict action against them. NHRC also stated that it has recommended to the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, to initiate departmental action against the concerned police officers who committed negligence in the registration of an FIR and investigation into it. (ANI)
