Promote health education, not just sex education: Ramadoss

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today warned Yoga Guru Ramdev not to make ostentatious claims and called for promoting comprehensive health education in schools instead of just sex education.

Asked about his reponse to Ramdev's reported claim that there was no need for sex education in schools as all the diseases could be cured by yoga, Dr Ramadoss said, ''Though I respect Ramdev for what he is doing in propogating and promoting yoga, I will request him not to make ostentatious claims.'' He said he wanted a comprehensive health education programme which should include all issues like physical education, sex education, population control and environmental issues, rather than just sex education being imparted in schools.

Talking about the ban by Maharashtra government on sex education in schools, Dr Ramadoss said it was for the government to decide whether his Ministry would take up the issue with the state government.

However, he was for comprehensive health education to deal with diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer which were increasing in alarming proportions in the country.

To prevent these lifestyle diseases among the youth, he said physical education be made compulsory in schools. He further said he would urge all schools to make physical education and games compulsory for all classes five days a week. He added that the issue had to be dealt with the Human Resource Development Ministry.

Regarding the reported move of Department of AYUSH to regulate Yoga teaching in the country by formulating a four and a half year course and one year internship, the Minister said he was not aware of any guidelines being issued in this regard.

On the other hand, any move to promote yoga, which originated in India, exported to the Western countries and again imported to India, was welcome. He said efforts are being made to set up centres of excellence of yoga and other traditional health measures.

UNI