Terming the Karnataka’s National Education Policy position paper on ‘Health and Well Being’ as “outrageous, outdated, unscientific and frivolous”, a group of seven doctors from Karnataka has demanded that it should be withdrawn immediately.
Coming down heavily on the paper for its “unscientific” suggestions and opinions, the doctors — most of whom are former students of NIMHANS — said they are aghast that the “ludicrous and irresponsible report” was prepared by an expert group that is chaired by K. John Vijay Sagar, Professor and Head of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NIMHANS. “It is also a matter of concern that this expert group on child health and nutrition does not even have a paediatrician as a member,” they said in a statement.
Citing an example, they said, “The position paper males claims about Panchakosha, the five layers (Sheaths) ‘covering the atman’. We urge the Director as well as the head of Child Psychiatry at NIMHANS to provide proof for the existence of such ‘sheaths’ or to immediately withdraw the paper,” they said, adding that NIMHANS must either provide conclusive evidence for these claims or withdraw this paper. “Otherwise, by practising such baseless methods, children’s health will be imperilled due to denial of evidence-based methods.”
