AYUSH Min struggles to pay salaries to Yoga trainers

The AYUSH Ministry, which has spent over Rs 20 crore to make International Yoga Day a grand success, is not having enough funds to pay salaries to some 35-plus yoga trainers hired by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY). According to sources in the Morarji Desai Yoga Institute, the delay of salaries to yoga teachers may force trainers to stop working till they don’t get their dues.

“AYUSH Ministry is spending in crores, allocating funds to different states for <g data-gr-id="30">promotion</g> of yoga, but the Ministry is not taking care of yoga trainers. As we are working on mission mode to fulfil the dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by making yoga a household practice, how would it be possible without salaries on time,” said a yoga trainer, on the condition of <g data-gr-id="39">anonimity</g>.

Adding further, the trainer said, “Among the 35-plus teachers that MDNIY has, some had joined the institute in 2009 at a remuneration of Rs 9,000 which was later raised to Rs 15,000 in 2011. The salary is due from the month of April.”

Justifying the delay MDNIY director <g data-gr-id="36">IV</g> Basavaraddi said, “It’s not that we are not concerned about the delay. We are very much thinking about them. The issue is in my knowledge and the institute is working to resolve the matter as early as possible, and a committee has been constituted to look into the matter,” adding that since all the yoga trainers are outsourced by Bedi & Bedi Associates, there was some renewal issue with the firm, which delayed the payment.

However, the firm owner Amandeep Singh remained tight-lipped when asked, that since trainers are their staff, it’s their responsibility to pay them. Interestingly, Bedi & Bedi Associates is the only firm that provides yoga trainers to Morarji Desai Yoga institute. Till <g data-gr-id="26">date</g> no other firm has “approached” the institute for the purpose.

Millennium Post tried to get the comments of Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, but despite several attempts he remained incommunicado.