THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — The southern Indian state of Kerala has defended its decision to introduce Zumba classes in public schools, after the move sparked protests from religious groups earlier this week.

Some 14,000 state-run schools in Kerala have been asked to organise daily Zumba sessions as part of an anti-drug campaign launched by the government last month.

The decision has been bitterly opposed by some Hindu and Muslim organizations in the state, who say the dance is a form of "cultural invasion".

They are urging parents and teachers to boycott the program, saying it goes against their religious beliefs and moral values. While the protests have died down, the groups are continuing to oppose the policy.

The Kerala government however has said it will not roll back the program, adding that "religion should not be mixed with education".

"Those who are protesting are proving themselves to be more dangerous than any drug problem," V Sivankutty, the state's education minister, told the BBC.

Sivankutty added that though schools have been asked to introduce Zumba into the curriculum, classes would still be optional for the students.

"It is not like we are forcing anyone - you can always opt out if you want," he said.

Protests first began when the Kerala government introduced a slew of measures to counter the growing use of drugs among school students last month.

These include enhanced surveillance around campuses, new awareness campaigns and rehabilitation programs for students, along with Zumba lessons.

Under the guidelines, all state-run schools have been asked to hire trained Zumba instructors to hold daily sessions for the students.

The curriculum and its schedule, they said, should be designed keeping in mind the convenience of both students and teachers.

The move was deeply opposed by the Samstha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulema, an influential organisation of Muslim clerics in the state, which manages hundreds of religious schools.

The group's spokesperson Nasar Faizy Koodathai told the BBC that boys and girls dancing together, in what he described as "vulgar" attire, was unacceptable.

"Zumba contradicts Indian moral values as it requires students to wear tight clothing and dance closely together. This should not be accepted," he said.

The Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, a right-wing organisation which describes itself as a group of "Hindu intellectuals", echoed this view.

In a statement earlier this week, the organisation's Director, R Sanjayan, called Zumba a "foreign" import and said that imposing it on students in the name of combating drug use was "malicious".

"There are ulterior motives behind the promotion of foreign cultural exports like Zumba by the government, which has made no effort to enrich or protect our traditions," he said, adding that parents and students should oppose the rule because it goes "against the uniqueness of the country".

The government has rejected all the allegations.

"The idea is to encourage students to start a new fitness journey for a healthier lifestyle - and nothing else ," said Sivankutty.

Besides, the guidelines make it clear that students will have to wear their school uniforms during the sessions, leaving no scope for "inappropriate dressing", he said.

"In schools, light exercise is always encouraged and children always wear uniforms for these sessions."

The government's sole aim, he added, is to encourage healthy habits in children.

"Engaging in sports promotes mental and physical vitality, health, and positive thinking in children, which can enhance their academic performance and personal development." — BBC