 YOUTH WELFARE AND PHYSICAL
 EDUCATION

In order to concentrate more closely on Youth Welfare Programmes, a separate Youth Welfare Unit was set up in this Ministry with effect from the 16th May, 1955.

Out of a budget provision of Rs, 5 lakhs during 1955-56 for Youth Welfare work, the following items of work have been undertaken:

(a) Youth Leadership Training Camps and Dramatics Camps

A grant of Rs. 3,000 was made to the University of Jammu and Kashmir for holding a Youth Leadership Training Camp under the direction of the Honorary Adviser on Youth Welfare. Earlier the Ministry organized four Youth Leadership Training Camps at Srinagar, Mahableshwar, Ranikhet and Lovedale and two Dramatics Camps at Andretta and Subathu. These camps, are organised from time to time, by this Ministry for a group of universities in an area at one time, with the object of preparing college teachers to conduct Youth Welfare activities in a more systematic and organised way. A Seminar of Principals was also held at Subathu to discuss the problems of youth and to find ways and means of solving them. A grant of Rs. 3,000 has also been sanctioned to the Pepsu State Government for conducting a Youth Leadership Camp. (Demand No. 19)

(b) Youth Tours and Hikes

In order to encourage, tours and hikes among the youth of the country, the Government of India gives financial assistance to small batches, of students going on tour to the extent of 75 per cent of the railway-fare at students' concession rate. The application must be submitted through the Vice-Chancellor of the University or Education Secretary of the State Government concerned. During the current financial year, a total amount of Rs. 77,000 has been sanctioned for nearly 120 educational institutions for conducting tours. (Demand No. 19)

(c) Youth Hostels

This Scheme envisages construction of hostels providing cheap food and accommodation to the young while on tour. A grant of Rs. 3,000 has been made to the West Bengal Government for constructing Youth Hostels in the State. This was in addition to the

earlier grant of Rs. 45,000 sanctioned during 1954-55. The Government of India have also purchased a building to serve as a Youth Hostel at Dalhousie at cost of Rs. 20,000. A sum of Rs. 10,000 has also, been granted to the Youth Hostels Association of India for their administrative expenditure. (Demand No. 19)

(d) Youth Festival

The Second Inter-University Youth Festival was organised by the Ministry from 23rd to 30th October, 1955.

The main items of competition in the Festival were:-

1. Arts and Crafts

(a) Painting (Oil or water)

(b) Drawing (Pen or pencil)

(d) Photographs

(e) Handicrafts (General or Women's)

2. Drama (One Act Play)

3. Classical Dance

4. Vocal Classical, Music

5. Instrumental Music

6. Radio Play

7. Hindi Elocution,

8. Group Dance

9. Group Singing.

The competitions were open only to bonafide students of affiliated colleges of universities within the age group 14 to 22.

The total strength of the Festival Camp was 1,154 with 25 univer- sities competing in various items of the Festival. A sum of Rs. 2.7 lakhs was sanctioned for this event,

A sum of Rs. 13.75 lakhs has been provided for youth welfare activities in the budget estimates for 1956-57 out of a total allocation of Rs. 100 lakhs made for this purpose in the Second Five- Year Plan. (Demand No. 19)

Sports

Since the establishment of the All-India Council of Sports, a number of activities such as, training of coaches in coaching camps, assisting the Sports Federations in organising training camps, and providing better amenities for sports have been initiated for the

promotion of sports in the country. Grants have also been paid by the Government to various Sports Federations for inviting sports teams from abroad to India and also for sending teams abroad for international meets.

The Government of India have organised Coaching Camps for the training of Coaches in Cricket, Football, Wrestling, Kabbadi and Hockey with a view to equip schools, colleges and universities with better coaches. In these training camps more up-to-date, techniques and methods are taught and special attention is paid to grace, movement and speed in conducting sports.

Another activity initiated by the Centre to improve and promote sports in the country is the recommendation to the State Governments to organise State Sports Councils for their guidance. The Government of India have prepared and circulated a model constitution for the State Sports Councils. (Demand No. 19)

Physical Education and Recreation

The Government continues to evince a keen interest in the pro- motion of Physical education. The three Sub-Committees set up, by the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation at its last meeting in December, 1954, to lay down Norms of Physical Fitness for boys and girls and to prepare Syllabuses of Physical Education separately for boys and girls of Primary and Secondary schools, have since completed their task and their Reports were considered by the Board at its meeting in January, 1956.

The First Five-Year Plan had recommended the establishment of a National College of Physical Education. The Sub-Committee appointed by the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation in 1953 to draw up a National Plan of Physical Education and Recreation also stressed the importance of a three-year Degree Course in Physical Education. The Government have, therefore, decided to set up a National College of Physical Education in the. country. A provision for the establishment of the College has been proposed in the Second Five-Year Plan.

The Government also continues to render financial assistance to the institutions and organisations of an all-India character, engaged in the promotion of Physical education. During the current financial year, a sum of Rs. 62,500 has been sanctioned for the promotion, of Physical education in the country. (Demand No. 19)

Bharat Scouts and Guides

The normal activities of the Bharat Scouts and Guides have, continued during the current year. There has been a growing interest in schools to join this organisation for co-curriculur activities.

The State Governments, have also contributed liberally to the conti- nuation and expansion of this movement.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides participated in the Eighth World jamboree that was conducted in August 1955 in Canada by deputing a contingent of 14 scouts to represent India. The Government of India sanctioned a grant of Rs. 20,000 on a matching basis on condition that the Scouts were selected on the basis of merit. At the Jamboree that was held at Melbourne (Australia) in December, 1955 three Sea Scouts were present. At present there is an exchange scheme of scouts which is being considered by the Bharat Scouts and Guides. It has been suggested that six American scouters should come to India in exchange for six Indian scouts who will leave for the U.S.A. for a period of three weeks. The Government of India have paid a sum of Rs. 6,000 to the headquarters to enable them to meet the expenses of the American scouters during the period of their stay in India. A sum of Rs. 75,000 has also been sanctioned to meet the organisational expenses of the Association.

A fear has been expressed in certain quarters that the A.C.C. Movement organised by the N.C.C. Directorate may affect adversely the Scouts and Guides movement. In order to allay these fears, the N.C.C. Directorate has raised the age of admission of A.C.C. Cadets in schools from 12 years to 13 years so that younger children may have the benefit of training under the Scouts and Guides Movement upto that age. Thereafter, the students will have the choice to continue as Scouts and Guides or join the A.C.C.

The request of the Bharat Scouts and Guides for the establishment of an All-India Training Centre at Panchmari is under consideration of the Government.

A provision of Rs. 13 lakhs exists in the budget for 1955-56 for the promotion of Physical Education, Sports and the Bharat Scouts and Guides activities. (Demand No. 19)

Labour and Social Service Camps

A sum of Rs. 1 crore has been provided in the first Five-Year Plan for the scheme of Labour and Social Service Camps which is intended to inculcate a sense of the dignity of manual labour among the students. A sum of Rs. 30 lakhs was spent during the year 1954-55 and Rs 70 lakhs have been allocated for utilisation during

the current financial year. This amount is sub-divided in the ratio of 75:25 into two major types of work, viz.-

(1) Labour and Social Service Camps.

(2) Work Projects, viz. construction of swimming pools and open air theatres etc. to be undertaken by the students in and around their educational institutions.

During the current session, universities, State Governments, voluntary organisations like the Bharat Sewak Samaj and Bharat Scouts and Guides and the N.C.C. Directorate of the Ministry of Defence have taken an active interest in organising youth camps in different parts of the country. During the current session up to 31st October, 1955 as many as 1,242 camps have been conducted in the country in which nearly 1,63,384 young men and women have. participated.

The Government subsidise youth camps on the following basis:

For food and incidental expenses @ Rs. 1/12/- per head per day.

For transport charges on the basis of third class railway or actual bus fare.

Government grants are also paid for the conduct of Organisers' Training Camps for camp organisers to ensure the supply of trained and experienced personnel for the conduct of labour and social service camps.

The Committee on Youth Camps and Labour Service set up in, April 1954 to determine all questions of grants and policy have held 11 meetings so far. Out of the total provision of Rs. 52.5 lakhs for the current financial year, a sum of Rs. 44,96,528 has been sanctioned as grants for camps conducted in about 25 States. (Demand No. 19).

Campus Work Projects

During the current financial year, a sum of Rs. 17.5 lakhs has been allocated for this scheme. Out of this, a sum of Rs. 17,44,588 has been sanctioned as grant to, 16 universities and seven State Governments, for the construction of 22 recreation hall-cum-auditoria, 16 open-air theatres. 19 swimming pools, 11 stadia, eight gymnasia, two running tracks and eight pavilions in the campuses of 75 educational institutions. The pre-requisite conditions for these grants is that the staff and students of the educational institutions applying for grant, have to render skilled/unskilled labour on the project. The institution concerned has also to bear 25 per cent of the actual expenditure excluding the cost of student labour. (Demand No. 19).

Students, Health Centre

A Students' Health Centre under the auspices of the World Uni- versity Service has been set up at Delhi University to provide facili- ties of medical treatment to all the members of the University Staff, their families and the students of Delhi University.

Out of the total estimated capital cost of Rs. 130,000 on the building of the Health Centre, the Government of India have agreed to accept liability up to 50 per cent, the other 50 per cent being contributed by the World University Service. The Government have so far paid Rs. 35,000 and the release of the last instalment of Rs. 30,000 is under consideration. The estimated annual recurring expenditure of Rs. 31,000 on the Health Centre is proposed to be shared between the Delhi University and the University Grants Commission.

Under the Second Five-Year Plan, it is proposed to establish 30 similar Health Centres in almost all the universities in the country with an estimated contribution of Rs. 39.75 lakhs by the Government of India. (Demand No. 19)

YOUTH WELFARE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION