PHYSICAL EDUCATION, GAMES, SPORTS AND YOUTH WELFARE
A. PHYSICAL EDUCATION The Government of India under the Chairmanship of Dr. Hirday Nath Kunzru set up a Committee to make recommendations on the coordination and integration of schemes operating in the field of Physical Education, Recreation and Youth Welfare. The Committee submitted its report in December, 1963. One of the important recommendations made by this Committee is that at the school stage there should be an Integrated Programme woven into the fabric of educational system and consisting broadly of a basic curriculum compulsory for all and an optional curriculum. The basic curriculum should include a minimum programme of physical and cultural activities and the optional part should consist of activities like scouting, montaineering, sports, dance, drama, music, hobbies, social service, workshop activities. This recommendation has been fully accepted by the Government of India and an integrated programme has been worked out in consultation with the experts and it is proposed to launch this integrated programme in all middle, high and higher secondary schools in the country from the next academic year. The new programme will be known as the `National Fitness Corps.'
2. National Fitness Corps Programme.-This programme is proposed to be launched from the next academic year and will replace the existing programmes under the Physical Education, A.C.C. and National Discipline Scheme. This programme, broadbased as it is, emphasises activities like sports and games, and fuses together all the good features of other programmes which it seeks to replace. Full details about the working of the National Fitness Corps programme are being worked out in consultation with the State Governments etc.
2.1. By the end of the financial year 1964-65 about 6500 NDS Instructors will be in position. Besides, about 5000 of the existing In-service Physical Education teachers will receive reorientation training by that period. It is proposed to transfer all NDS Instructors to the States as soon as possible after the launching of the National Fitness Corps programme. Thus, while instructional staff will be under the States, the Central Directorate will confine its role to guidance, coordination, training and other activities which will ensure uniform implementation of the programme. Necessary financial assistance is proposed to be rendered to the States for the introduction of the new programme in all schools. The funds provided for the National Discipline Schemes in 1965-66 budget will be utilised for the impementation of the National Fitness Corps.
3. Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior.-The College is progressively expanding its activities. The admissions to the 3-year degree course as well as to the 2-year post-graduate and master's degree course during the year have been the highest so far. 74 students were admitted to
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the first year degree course and 14 to master's degree course. 7 students, passed the M.P.E. (Part I) examination and 45 the B.P.E. (Final) examination during 1964.
3.1. General K. M. Cariappa has been renominated Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College for another term of 3 years.
3.2. By the end of the year 1965-66, it is hoped that the construction of the swimming pool and two gymnasia-one for men and the other for women students at the College will be completed.
3.3. The Union Ministry of Education set up an Evaluation Commit- tee to assess the working of the College with a view to finding if the expenditure incurred on the College was justified and also to make recommendations for its future development. This Committee has confirmed that the institution had been fulfilling the purpose for which it was established. Besides, the Committee has made a number of useful recommendations for the development of the College.
4. National Physical Efficiency Drive.-The Drive was organised all over the country in November, 1964. About 4,800 testing centres were set up and as the information so far available indicates, about 10 lakh persons as aganist 6 lakh in the previous year, participated in the drive. Financial assistance has been given to States to set up about 150 permanent testing centres where facilities and guidance will be available throughout the year to the prospective competitors to improve upon their performance in the various test items.
4.1. The Fourth All-India Competition for the National Awards in Physical Efficiency is being organised in February, 1965, at Bangalore.
5. Grants-in-Aid to Private Physical Education Training Institutions.6 projects of hostels or/and administrative blocks of 5 institutions have been approved during the year involving Union Government's contribution or about Rs. 4.5 lakh as aganist the total estimated construction cost of about Rs. 8 lakh. In addition, further assistance has also been extended for the projects of gymnasia approved in the previous years but not yet completed. A total expenditure of about Rs. 4 lakh is expected to be incurred under the scheme during 1964-65. Assistance on the same pattern is expected to be continued during 1965-66 and quite a good number of projects in progress at present are expected to be completed next year.
6. Promotion of Research in Special Branches of Physical Education Including Yoga.-The Scheme consists of the four main items as given in the paragraphs that follow. While the Lakshmibai College of Physical Education at Gwalior is considering the setting up of a Department of Yoga in the College, the grant-in-aid to the Vishwayatam Yoga Ashram has been stopped on complaints.
6.1. The Kaivalayadham Shreeman Madhava Yoga Mandir Samiti, Lonavala received grants amounting to Rs. 46,767 from the Ministry during 1964-65 for their scientific research and philosophico-literary research department.
6.2. The project of the Yoga Institute, Santa Cruz, Bombay, to undertake a survey of the Yogic Institutions in the country with the Union Government's assistance has been approved.
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6.3. Preparation of Popular Literature.-9 manuscripts of the introductory pamphlets on selected games were received. 2 of these were found sub-standard and were rejected. Others are being scrutinised in consultation with the experts and are likely to be published in due course.
6.4. Promotion of Research.-Besides 9 research projects already approved for assistance during the year 1963-64 and which are progressing, some fresh proposals have been received. These will be examined in consultation with the Research Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation.
7. Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.-Initiated in the U.K. and later put into operation in a number of other Commonwealth countries, the scheme aims at promoting active and creative use of leisure among boys between 14 and 19 years and girls between 14 and 20 years of age. The activities include rescue and public service, expedition, pursuits and interests and fitness etc. The winners get three graded standards of awards in the form of certificates and also medals. It has been decided to extend the scope of the scheme to cover such institutions in India as are desirous of participating in the competitions.
8. Central Advisory Board of Physical Education & Recreation.-The Central Advisory Board of Physical Education & Recreation at its meeting held in May 1964 approved the Integrated Programme of Physical Education and National Discipline which is the basis for the new National Fitness Corps programme. The three-year term of the Board expired in December, 1964 and its reconstitution is under examination. It is proposed to make certain changes in the constitution of the Board, keeping in view the changes that have recently taken place in the field of Physical Education.
B. SPORTS AND GAMES The Union Government is advised by the All-India Council of Sports in matters relating to the promotion of Sports and Games in the country.
9. Participation in the Olympic Games at Tokyo.-On the recommen- dation of the All-India Council of Sports, an Indian contingent was sent to Tokyo to participate in the Olympic Games held from October 10-24, 1964. While the performance of our teams in diving, gymastics, cycling and shooting was not satisfactory, the following events deserve mention.
9.1. Hockey.-India sent a team of 18 players, met Pakistan in the Finals and won the Gold Medal.
9.2. Wrestling.-One of the eight wrestlers sent, was 6th in the World in Bantam Weight and won a diploma.
9.3. Athletics.-One of the 13 athletes sent, was 5th in the World in the Men's 110 Metres Hurdles. The 400 Metres Relay team qualified for the Semi-Finals. In the Marathon, the Indian runners were 33rd and 43rd amongst the 68 starters. The only woman athlete Stephie D'Souza, broke the National Record in 400 Metres.
India retained for the second time the World Billiard Championship.
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10. Arjuna Awards.-7 outstanding sportsmen of the year named below were given Arjuna Awards in 1963 by the President at a special function arranged at Rashtrapati Bhawan on the 2nd April, 1964 :
1. Stephie D'Souza Athletics
2. Subimal Goswamy alias Chuni Goswamy Football
3. Ashok singh Malik Golf
4. Charanjit Singh Hockey
5. Thakur Kishan Singh Polo
6. Kamineni Eswara Rao Weightlifting
7. G. Andalkar Wrestling
11. National Institute of Sports and National Coaching Scheme.- The Institute which was established in the year 1961 has made steady progress. Besides Indian coaches, 10 foreign coaches are employed by the Institute at present. The policy is to attach under-study Indian coaches with the foreign coaches to facilitate gradual replacement of the foreign coaches by the Indians. 548 trainees have so far been qualified as coaches from the Institute in various games and sports.
11.1. Courses-3-year regular course in athletics, gymnastics and swimming is being run by the Institute. The Institute also conducts a 1-year course for basket-ball, badminton, cricket, football, hockey, tennis, table tennis, volleyball and wrestling. 208 persons including 16 women are at present undergoing training in the Institute.
11.2. Regional Coaching Centres.-Under the National Coaching Scheme of the Institute a number of Regional Coaching Centres are being established in various States. 24 such centres have already come into existance. The National Institute of Sports allots a number of trained coaches to the States free of charge to man their Regional Coaching Centres provided the State Governments also provide a matching number of National Institute of Sports trained coaches from out of its own resources.
11.3. Government Grants.-During the year 1964-65 funds amounting to Rs. 11 lakh for the working of the National Institute of Sports and Rs. 5 lakh for its Coaching Scheme are expected to be released.
12. Second All-India Sports Congress.-The Second All-India Sports Congress was held at Vigyan Bhavan from April 2-4, 1964. The Congress which was inaugurated by the Union Education Minister and presided over by the President, All-India Council of Sports, was attended by a large number of delegates from the National Sports Federations, Sports Institutions, Sports Goods Manufacturers, Sports Writers etc. The Congress made very useful suggestions for the promotion of Sports and games in the country and in particular for the formulation of proposals under the fourth Five Year Plan.
13. Construction of Stadia.-Under the scheme financial assistance was given for the construction of Stadia at Roorkee (Uttar Pradesh), Belgharia (West Bengal), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Mercara (Mysore) and Palayamkottai (Madras). The total expenditure incurred by Government in the current financial year is expected to be about Rs. 2.5 lakh.
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14. Financial Assistance for Promotion of Sports and Games.-The Union Government incurred an expenditure of Rs. 2,69,838 for the return passage cost for the Indian contingent and officials etc. deputed to the Olympic Games.
14.1. In consultation with the All-India Council of Sports financial assistance or permission of the Government was accorded to the National Sports Federations for inviting foreign teams to India and for sending Indian teams abroad for participation in the international events. Grants were also given to National federations, etc. for holding National Championships, organising coaching camps, purchase of equipment and for meeting expenditure on salaries of paid Assistant Secretaries.
C. YOUTH WELFARE 15. Inter-University Youth Festival.-The 9th Inter-University Youth Festival was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri at New Delhi on the 14th November, 1964. Forty-seven universities with 610 participants (including 210 women) participated in this Festival. The strength of the contingent from each university was reduced from 24 to 14 students to cut down the expenditure on the Festival.The programme of the Festival included a symposium on the different facets of Jawaharlal Nehru, Shakespearian, recitation, discussions and debates, dance, drama and music and play-day activities. An exhibition hockey match between the Olympic XI and the, Universities XI was also held. The Olympic XI won by a narrow margin of 1 goal.
15.1 The various universities also organised Inter-Collegiate Youth Festivals to select their contingent for participation in the Inter-University Youth Festival. Grants were provided by the Ministry for this purpose, to meet 50 per cent of the expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs. 5,000 for the affiliating university and Rs. 1,000 for residential university.
16. Students Tours.-Under this scheme, students of the age-group 5-24 are given assistance to meet rail/bus fare at students' concession rates subject to a maximum of Rs. 60 per student to enable them to undertake educational tours to places of cultural, historical or educational interest.
16.1. The scheme is being implemented in Union Territories. While two educational institutions of Delhi have been given grant of Rs. 3,061,7 other institutions in the Union Territory of Delhi have been accorded administrative approval for undertaking the tours. The implementation of the scheme in different States is held up as the amounts could not be allocated to the State Governments for want of certain basic statistical information. The likely expenditure on the scheme for the year 1964-65 is Rs. 0.80 lakh.
17. Youth Hostels.-The revised Youth Hostels scheme is under consideration of the Ministry of Finance. An amount of Rs. 20,000 has been released for the Youth Hostel at Always under the old scheme. The likely expenditure for the year 1964-65 is Rs. 0.40 lakh.
18. Youth Welfare Boards & Committees.-16 universities receiving grants under the scheme have set up youth welfare committees to look after the welfare activities of university youths. A sum of Rs. 42,188 has so far been sanctioned to different universities during the year. Two more universities have submitted their proposals for setting up such committees. The likely expenditure for the year 1964- 65 is Rs. 0.50 lakh.
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19. Youth Leadership and Dramatic Training Camps.-These camps are designed to impart short term training to college/university teachers in the organisation of youth welfare programmes in their respective colleges/ universities. Financial assistance is also given to individual universities to conduct similar camps and the grants cover 75 per cent of the expenditure on admissible items subject to a maximum of Rs. 3,000 for each camp. Requests for such grants have been received from 6 universities. The likely expenditure on the entire scheme during the year 1964-65 is Rs. 0.60 lakh (Rs. 0.30 lakh each for the camps to be conducted by the Ministry and by the Universities respectively).
20. N.C.C./A.C.C.-Compulsory N.C.C. training for all able bodied students is in progress. N.C.C. Directorate is the controlling authority for the implementation of the N.C.C. scheme and the Ministry of Defence shares the expenditure with the State Governments.
21. Circus.-There is no budget provision available for this scheme. The Education Ministry only recommends the applications received from the Circus Companies, affiliated to the Circus Federation of India, to the Railway authorities for travel concessions and the State Governments for the grant of camping facilities.
22. Deputation of Youth Delegations to Various Conferences Abroad. This Ministry does not have any budget provision to finance delegations of youth going abroad for participation in various international conferences/seminars. Two delegations, however, have permitted to participate in the following programmes : (i) a students delegation of 8 members sponsored by the National Council of University Students of India for giving cultural performances in Western European countries for about 2 months. (ii) a delegation of 6 persons (4 from the Y.M.C.A., and 2 from Young Farmers Association of India) for the World Youth Camp held at Tokyo during October, 1964.
D. BHARAT SCOUTS & GUIDES 23. The Government continued to extend financial assistance to the Bharat Scouts & Guides for their various activities. An amount of Rs. 2.20 lakh has already been given to the Bharat Scouts & Guides so far. The likely expenditure for the year 1964-65 is Rs. 2.88 lakh.
23.1. Besides its usual activities, the Bharat Scouts & Guides participated in the following international conferences/seminars /jamborees : (i) East West Conference at New Delhi. (ii) International Children's Camp at Aztec in Crimea (U.S.S.R.) in August, 1964, (iii) Seventh Australian Jamboree (iv) Golden Jubilee Jamboree at Lagos. The Bharat Scouts & Guides also conducted/organised: (a) Fourth all- India Jamboree at Allahabad in December, 1964. (b) A mountaineering expedition to Mrigthuni by the Girl Guides who successfully climbed the peak.
E. LABOUR AND SOCIAL SERVICE SCHEME 24. This Scheme has been in operation from the fourth year of the first Five-Year Plan. It is divided into two parts : (a) Labour and Social Service camps and (b) Campus Work Projects.
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24.1 (a) Labour and Social Service Camps.- The scheme is operated through the agencies of universities, State Governments, the N.C.C. Directorate and voluntary organisations of All-India status like the Bharat Sevak Samaj, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Y.M.C.A. The object of such camps is to inculcate a sense of dignity in manual labour among students and other youths and to give them an opportunity of coming into contact with village life and participating in works of Community Development Blocks. Each camper is expected to put in about four hours of Shramdan daily in a camp lasting 10 to 30 days on certain selected minor projects.