The Maharashtra Government has included the yoga category in the list of annual Shiv Chhatrapati Awards that are given in the sports category to outstanding sportspersons and coaches. On Friday, the government issued a resolution to this effect. The GR said certain changes had been made in the rules of the awards. ''In August, 2019, a 15-member committee was set up under Dhanraj Pillay (former hockey captain) to suggest changes in the rules of Shiv Chhatrapati Awards. Accordingly, rules governing the awards were revised in January, 2020. In 2018-2019 while receiving the applications for Shiv Chhatrapati awards it was realised that certain points still need clarification. Following this, the Sports Commissioner was notified. Since then, the government has been considering revising rules for the awards.,'' the resolution said. Of 38 disciplines in which the awards are given, yoga is at the bottom. Shiv Chhatrapati awards, starting from 1969-70, are given to sportspersons who excel at state, national and international levels. From 1988-89, the award was given to coaches. Welcoming the decision, MLC Satyajeet Tambe said yoga had been included in Shiv Chhatrapati awards list as he had been consistently following up with the state government. "I had also recently raised the issue in the state legislative council,'' he said. Tambe said yoga practitioners will benefit from government schemes such as grace marks and job reservations through this decision. "The importance of yoga in the existing lifestyle is crucial. But it was not given the importance it deserved. While demanding the inclusion of yoga in sports, the intention was to encourage people to take to the ancient wellness discipline. I believe the move is an honour to yoga and its cultural legacy," Tambe said. Tambe said he had been pursuing the government to give yoga the status of a sport from last one year and had frequently voiced his demands to officials and ministers. Tambe said athletes and coaches across the state are honoured with the Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Sports Mentor Award, Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award, Eklavya State Sports Award (disabled), Adventure Sports Award, and Jijamata Sports Award. "However, yoga was not in the list," Tambe added. ''State Sports Minister Sanjay Bansode, in the winter session of the legislature, had assured that rules will be prepared and yoga included as a discipline in the Shiv Chhatrapati awards by December 31. The Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council had also directed the minister to come to a decision,'' he said. Suvarna Deolankar, vice-principal of St Mira's School for Girls, said, ''It is a welcome step and will help in increasing awareness about yoga. However, very few yoga competitions are held in the country. While picking awardees, their victories in university, state, national and international levels are taken into consideration. They are given marks for various competitions and victories secured in their discipline. Therefore, a probable awardee has to show that he has participated in so many competitions at various levels. In case of yoga, very few competitions are held. However, in future, one hopes more competitions will be held.''
