News Flash
30 September
Reported: News Flash
Despite decades of contribution to yoga, Chikkabasavegowda and other senior trainers are left without recognition on World Senior Citizens Day
Bengaluru: The government has been neglecting the yoga sector for the past 20 years. No awards, funds, or felicitations have been received until now," said social worker and former yoga trainee Chikkabasavegowda.
Chikkabasavegowda, aged 68, came to Bengaluru hoping that someone would consider the yoga sector as important and facilitate recognition for him or the senior yoga trainees across Karnataka on “World Senior Citizens Day – 2024,” which is being celebrated today (Tuesday) at Ravindra Kalakshetra. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is feliciting other senior individuals who have achieved great things in sports, culture, art, and other sectors, except for the yoga sector.
In an interview with News Flash, Chikkabasavegowda stated, “Yoga is the most important part of this era. I am someone who has trained more than 100,000 people across the state in yoga by conducting various free health camps all over the district. I received the district Ramarajya Award for my yogic contributions from Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in 2017, as I belong to Kanakapura in Chelur Village.”
During my tenure as a yoga trainee, I used to train many ministers from Vidhanasoudha at the Sanskar Bhavan Yoga School in Kanakapura. However, now no one values us, nor do they consider yoga an important part of life. People only practice yoga for the sake of appearances on International Yoga Day; no one has any concern for us and our contributions, He added.
Many trainees from the yoga committee submitted an application before August 31 on the senior citizens portal, but the yoga sector did not receive any invitation to join the event today. The yoga committee members across the state lack sufficient funding from the government to conduct yoga camps statewide. They conduct free camps and provide free yoga training using their own savings.