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The curtain-raiser to the third edition of the International Health and Research Convention (IHRC), which is co-hosted by Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) and University of Leeds, U.K., and scheduled for February 2025, was held here recently.
A press note from SBV said that the event would feature four verticals that have been receiving wide attention among the health sciences institutions the world over, namely biomedical sciences, patient safety, health professions education, and women in leadership, in tune with the tenets laid down in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The curtain raiser event saw the launch of a dedicated website and flyers. A brochure featuring the salient aspects of the convention put together by the organising committee members was also released on the occasion by Nihar Ranjan Biswas, Vice-Chancellor, SBV, in the presence of Ashok Kumar Das, Advisor for IHRC 2025, and Nirmal Coumare, Organising Chair of IHRC 2025.
The event saw the virtual participation of Piruthivi Sukumar, Pro Dean, International, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, and regional lead for India; and Moe Thaw Oo, Professor of Medical Education and Inclusive Practice, Head of MBChB, University of Leeds.
IHRC 2025 organising secretary Asha K.; session coordinators Balanehru Subramanain, Debdatta Basu, Sobana, Carounanidhy Usha; and co-organising secretary Pajanivel also participated.
The Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM) of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) recently hosted a Teacher’s Training Programme (TTP) on ‘introducing yoga to children with special needs.’
The three-day programme was organised in collaboration with Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, Lonavala, the Ministry of AYUSH, and the Dalal Family Foundation, US.
Nihar Ranjan Biswas, SBV Vice-Chancellor, inaugurated the event in the presence of Sridharan Rajappa, Director of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy, government of Puducherry.
The chief facilitators of the free-of-cost TTP included Meena Ramanathan, Vice Principal of the School of Yoga Therapy, SBV, and Praseeda Menon, Assistant Professor and Research Officer, Kaivalyadhama.
On the occasion, Sugathan M., consultant clinical psychologist and founder of SADAY School; Chitra Shah, Director, Satya Special School; and Sri Saravanan Palani, State Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha, Directorate of School Education, were honoured for their pioneering work on children with special needs.
Subodh Tiwari, CEO, Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute, and Secretary General of Indian Yoga Association; A.R. Srinivasan, Registrar, SBV; and Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Director, ISCM, SBV, offered felicitations.
According to ISCM, yoga-based interventions hold immense potential to enhance the quality of life and overall well-being of children with NDDs by promoting relaxation, coordination, focus, and reducing stress and anxiety.
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), commonly known as special needs, encompass a range of disabilities that primarily affect the brain’s functioning during a child’s developmental years. These disorders can manifest as difficulties in language and speech, motor skills, behaviour, memory, learning, and other neurological functions.
Estimates that nearly one in every eight children in India may be grappling with at least one NDD, highlight the prevalence of these conditions in children aged two to nine years at nearly 12%.
The programme was held as part of Kaivalyadhama undertaking a series of TTPs based on the recognition of yoga’s transformative impact on the holistic well-being of children with NDDs.
The TTPs aim to equip special educators, physical education teachers, and other caregivers and educators working with children with specific NDDs with the necessary knowledge and skills to introduce yoga into their lives.
Participants will be trained to conduct engaging and enjoyable yoga sessions tailored to the needs of children with specific NDDs. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to contribute to related yoga research by employing observational tools and questionnaires to collect valuable research data.
French Consul General Lise Talbot Barre during a recent visit to the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth to explore areas of collaboration.
The French Consul General Lise Talbot Barre recently visited the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) to explore the scope for academic partnerships.
According to the SBV, the visit by Ms. Barre, who was accompanied by Blandine Ripert, Director, French Institute of Pondicherry and Sathish Nallam, president, Alliance Francaise, was primarily intended to explore the possibilities of collaboration in academics, research, student exchange, and cross-cultural experiences.
She elaborated on the role played by the Consulate in enabling developmental initiatives aimed at translating need and value-based ideas into actual practice.
She mentioned in particular a few prospective areas of collaboration aimed at the exchange of students and faculty in diverse areas that include health sciences, humanities and even linguistics.
Key areas
Ms. Ripert cited the key areas of the MoU signed between the French Institute of Pondicherry and SBV, such as epidemiological studies by incorporating a geospatial network as linked to communicable and non-communicable diseases prevalent in the region.
Dr. Nallam welcomed the initiative jointly undertaken by SBV and Alliance Francaise in conducting French classes for the benefit of aspiring professionals in healthcare.
Contribution to society
Nihar Ranjan Biswas, SBV Vice-Chancellor, expressed hope that the basic French classes will be integrated into the regular curriculum to the extent possible. On behalf of Chancellor M.K. Rajagopalan, Mr. Biswas presented the Consul General of France with a monetary contribution towards societal obligations under the Institute of Social Responsibility.
The delegation visited facilities at SBV, including the Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine, which encompasses yoga and music therapy.
Later, the Consul General inaugurated the French classes for the students of allied health sciences, including nursing, pharmacy, and physiotherapy.
Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV) has launched an Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM) to better integrate ongoing complementary therapeutics and wellness medicine programmes for patients. SBV has been providing complementary medicine services since 2007 in the form of music therapy interventions and yoga to target specific diseases, and in combination with modern medicine.
Both these services were subsequently established as centres – the Centre for Music Therapy Education & Research and the Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research.
Bhushan Patwardhan, chairman, executive committee, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and former vice-chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), launched the facility at a function recently.
In his remarks, Dr. Patwardhan drew reference to the statistics provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) that nearly 80% of the global population utilises traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM).
Article on “Working in tandem to explore music therapy” in “The Hindu” on November 25, 2015.
Article on “Explaining the positive effect of music on children affected by autism” in “The Hindu” on April 11, 2016
Article on “Healing through the power of music” in “The Hindu” on December 03, 2016
Read more:Â Â https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/Healing-through-the-power-of-music/article16754490.ece
Article on “Healing with the sound of music” in the newspaper “The Hindu” on March 04, 2016.
To Read More: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/healing-with-the-sound-of-music/article8312334.ece
