Poor attendance at Yoga Day event, Wildlife Institute threatens to cut salaries, then backtracks

According to Monday morning’s email, the overall attendance for the Yoga Day event was poor despite repeated notices issued by the WII and communications from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. “Please note that while WII ensures the timely disbursement of monthly salaries/emoluments to over 600 employees (including researchers), about 75 individuals participated in this important national event,” it said.

The mail further said that all those who were absent on June 21 — Yoga Day — without prior intimation are required to submit a written explanation for their absence. WII employees, permanent and contractual, were asked to submit an explanation to their sectional head or the Deputy Registrar. The email also asked the finance officer to withhold the release of salaries for the month of June until the attendance record, tour details, or a valid written explanation is received and verified, the email said.

Then at 1.54 pm on Monday, another email said the previous one stands withdrawn.

The institution’s Registrar, J A Johnson, said the morning email was sent to ensure “professional conduct” among employees, and was not a ministry directive. “As the administration, we expect punctuality and discipline, which is why the email was sent. We had not planned any action. Yoga Day was an institutional event, and I wanted employees to take part,” he said.

Before Saturday’s event, on the same email thread, the Registrar had asked the employees to wear white clothes and carry individual yoga mats to celebrate the day.

Staff at the institute said that participation on Yoga Day has always been voluntary at the institute. The Registrar also said it has not been made compulsory.