YOUTH SERVICES, YOUTH WELFARE, PHYSICAL EDUCATION GAMES AND SPORTS
9.01. The Ministry continued to operate the programmes for youth services and youth welfare during the year. Taking into account the fact that the world of non-student youth, broadly covered by the age-group 18-30, numbering over 100 million, presents special problems because of their large number, and the non-availability of organised institutional facilities to enable them to get together and act as a well-knit cohesive force for their own improvement and for national development, certain programmes have also been initiated during the year mainly directed towards this huge non-student youth population. Greater attention was also given to the improvement of facilities for physical education and sports and games in the country.
9.02. National Service Scheme: Originally conceived as an alternative to the compulsory National Cadet Carps programme, (NCC) the National Service Scheme (NSS) was to cover every boy student studying in the first two years of the degree course who did not join the NCC, an exemption being made only to outstanding sportsmen, for whom special facilities for coaching were to be provided under the National Sports Organisation (NSO). Both NCC and NSS were, however, to be voluntary for girls. But owing to the constraint of resources, the Ministry has been asked to implement the NSC/NSO scheme on a selective and voluntary basis, at a cost of Rs. 6.5 crore against a total outlay of Rs. 21.50 crore originally proposed in the Fourth Plan. Of this, Rs. 5 crore are meant for NSS programme and the balance
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per capita cost has been estimated at Rs. 150 per year, the Central share being Rs. 100 and the State's, Rs. 50. The universities have been allowed to utilise Rs. 120 (Rs. 70 of the Centre's share and Rs. 50 being the State's share) per student per year for the promotion of the programme. The balance of Rs. 30 is to be spent by the Union Government towards grants to various schools of social work which have been attached to various universities to give orientation training to NSS teachers, develop the programme and organise all-India camps and also for grants to three designated institutes, viz., Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Bombay, Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi and I.I.T. Kharagpur, for research and evaluation, for providing necessary training facilities and for producing literature, necessary for the NSS programme.
9.03. The NSS programme was launched in September 1969 in 37 selected universities and three other institutes to cover 40,000 students. In 1970-71 the programme has been extended to all universities with a targeted coverage of 95,000 students. For the orientation of teachers, 18 schools of social work have been attached to universities to give training to NSS teachers in various aspects of the NSS programme. The schools have imparted orientation training to 650 teachers so far. The three designated institutes have held several seminars whose recommendations have already proved efficacious in the development and implementation of the programme.
9.04. A sum of Rs. 30,41,500 has been sanctioned to the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, J&K, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Mysore, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, UP, and West Bengal, covering the needs of 86,900 students, as the first instalment representing 50% of the Government of India's share for implementing programme during 1970-71 in the universities in these states.
9.05. Under this scheme, the following inter-university and inter-state national service champs have also been held with a view
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to promoting national integration and developing interest in national service:
Location Host University
Rishikesh Banaras Hindu University
Chandigarh. Panjab University
Almora Aligarh Muslim University
Hospet Karnatak University
Tirunelveli Madurai University
A grant of Rs. 20,000 was paid for each of the above camps.
9.06. To help guide the implementation of the NSS Programme, a Central Advisory Committee has been constituted. It held its first meeting on September 24, 1970 and made a few practicable important recommendations which are:
(a) The Dean of Students Welfare in each university should be made responsible for promoting NSS programme. Where such posts do not exist, they should be created 'at least in readers' scale.
(b) The scope of NCC should be enlarged to cover the existing gap, since all the students in first two years of the degree course are not now covered under either NSS or NSO or NCC.
(c) The vice-chancellors or principals of the universities/ colleges may arrange for a short camp of four or five days' duration at the beginning of the academic year for such boys as evince interest in joining the NSS. Selections for the NSS for the year should be completed soon after the camp so that the year's compliment of NSS is in position shortly after the commencement of the academic year.
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(d) Certificates should be issued to students on the satisfactory completion of their two-year term with NSS. Recruiting agencies, including private employers, should be requested to treat service in the NSS as an additional desirable qualification for employment.
(e) A National Badge should be designed which could incorporate the NSS emblem as well as the emblem of the university concerned.
All these recommendations have been accepted and action is being taken. During 1971-72 it is proposed to cover 1,10,000 students under the NSS programme.
9.07. National Sports Organisation: The objective of the scheme is to provide universality in the matter of sports and games and thence promote excellence among college students in selected fields of sports and games. In the scheme of National Sports Organisation, the following major programmes have been taken up:
(i) Development of physical facilities in the universities
(ii) Provision of coaches
(iii) Organising coaching camps
(iv) Award of sports talent scholarships
The first two programmes are being implemented by the UGC while the last two have been entrusted to the Inter-University Sports Board of India and Ceylon. Progress on these programmes is indicated below.
(a) Physical Facilities: Out of the Plan outlay of Rs. 1.5 crore for the NSO programme, a sum of Rs. 1,06,50,000 has been earmarked for the improvement of existing physical facilities and provision of additional facilities in universities/colleges. A grant of Rs. 34 lakh had been given to the UGC in 1969-70 for the purpose; a further grant of Rs. 12 lakh was released in 1970-71. The UGC approved financial assistance for a number of univer-
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sities/colleges for the construction of gymnasia. In accordance with the recommendations of the Informal Consultative Committee on NSO, it has been decided to consider also the question of giving financial assistance for a number of multipurpose playing fields, each of which would have a pavilion and fields for games like hockey, football, basketball, volleyball, etc., as well as a track for the athletic events. The UGC will also consider, the possibility of giving assistance for the improvement of existing swimming pools and for the construction of new swimming pools in selected areas where swimming is a common pastime. For this purpose, a standard multipurpose playing fields manual is under preparation in English by the National Institute of Sports, Patiala. It will thereafter be published in all Indian languages Besides giving detailed instructions on the laying of playfields and specifications for built-up areas, this manual will contain the rules for different games.
(b) Coaches: Earlier, the UGC used to give 50% assistance towards the appointment of NIS-trained coaches. This quantum has been increased to 75% from 1969-70. Out of a total of 100 coaches envisaged in the NSO programme, the UGC has so far agreed to give financial assistance to 19 universities for the employment of 47 coaches.
(c) Coaching Camps: During the academic year 1969-70, the Inter- University Board has organised 14 coaching camps in cricket, hockey, volleyball, kho-kho, basketball and wrestling covering 350 participants. They have also held 5 inter-university camps in athletics, hockey, football, volleyball and wrestling covering 110 participants. They were given a grant of Rs. 4,00,760 in 1969-70 for the purpose. During 1970-71 the IUB proposed to hold 110 university- level camps in various games. It held 77 camps till March 1, 1971 and the remaining were scheduled to be over in March, 1971. A grant of Rs. 4,87,000 was sanctioned to IUB during 1970-71 for this purpose. Another grant of Rs. 30,000 was also given for strengthening is staff for implementing the NSO programme.
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(d) Sports Talent Scholarships: The NSO programme inter alia provides for the award of sports talent scholarships for helping outstanding sportsmen/sportswomen in their studies as well as in maintaining their physical standards, purchase of equipment, clothing, etc. Under the scheme, 50 such scholarships of Rs. 100 each, tenable for 10 months during a year, for 2 years, will be awarded each year through the IUB. For 1970-71, a grant of Rs. 50,000 was released to the IUB who has completed selections for the 50 scholarships.
9.08. Youth Welfare Boards and Committees: The youth welfare boards and committees are designed to look after and promote the welfare activities for and among university/college students to enable them to utilise profitably their leisure hours. Under the scheme, the Centre gives assistance to universities covering 50% of their administrative expenditure incurred on the employment of a whole-time director/dean of student welfare and a small staff to 'assist him, besides miscellaneous contingent expenditure on certain approved items. At present about 40 universities have set up such boards/committees.
9.09. National Programme for Non-Student Youth: One of the main objectives of youth services is to provide opportunities to the large number of non-student youth for preparation and training for work and family life, enabling them to understand and assume social and civic responsibilities, developing in them a spirit of comradeship, patriotism, cultural outlook and participation in planning and implementation of the programmes of community and national development. To help formulate and implement detailed programmes for non-student youths, the Ministry has set up a National Advisory Board on Youth Services with representatives of various governmental and non-governmental agencies engaged in youth programmes. The functions of the Board, 'among others, are to provide necessary coordination between the various agencies engaged in the promotion of national youth programmes, accreditation of youth organisations, sponsoring youth programmes, assisting special
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youth programmes by way of financial, technical and research assistance, evaluating youth programmes, assuming clearinghouse functions like preparation of reports, monographs and literature on youth activities, organising seminars, symposia, workshops and committees, consideration of matters relating to important problems of youth and the promotion of special study and survey of problems relating to Indian youth. At its first meeting held in December, 1970, the Board approved the following programmes for non-student youth, within the Plan allocation of Rs. 5 crore.
(i) Setting up of State Advisory Board on Non- Student Youth Welfare.
(ii) Setting up of district youth boards in every district under the chairmanship of the Collector of the district.
Setting up of one district youth centre and two block youth centres in every district.
The work centres to be organised in co-operation with the Ministries/Departments of Agriculture, Labour, Cottage Industries, etc.
Setting up of reception centres in big cities like Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
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(i) Development of trekking routes as also the cycling routes, with minimum expenditure, and provision of camping facilities, etc.
(ii) Setting up of 100 small camp sites for about 50 people; 10 larger camp sites for about 1000 people; and 3 or 4 national camp sites to accommodate 2000 and more people.
Providing facilities for the training of youth workers.
Providing financial assistance for various program- mes which include travel subsidies for non-student rural youth parties;purchase of sports and cultural equipment for rural youth centres; assistance to voluntary youth organisations for cultural program- mes in rural areas; and assistance for the holding of training programme, workshops, etc. for giving inservice training to youth leaders and officers in the State Governments engaged in youth welfare activities, etc.
9.10. Scouting and Guiding: Scouting and guiding is an international movement and is encouraged at the national level by the Government of India and by the State Governments at State level. The object of the scouting and guiding movement is to help develop the character of boys and girls and to make them good citizens inculcating in them a spirit of loyalty, patriotism and concern for others. The National Head-quarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides, New Delhi, promote the entire programme and receives grants-in-aid from the Ministry to meet
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part of its organisational expenses as well as the expenditure on approved items like training camps, national and international jamborees and participation in international events, etc.
9.11. Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary organisations in the Field of Youth Services: Assistance is given to organisations of an all-India character for activities which meet regional or national needs for the promotion of national integration. Activities like carrying out significant experimental or pilot projects, conducting research in youth work. training of personnel for youth work, conducting conferences, tours, festivals, seminars, refresher courses, workshops devoted to problems of youth welfare, organising camps and any other services conducive to the promotion of the, national integration merit assistance under the scheme. The grant-in-aid from the Union Government is given up to 80 per cent of the non-recurring expenditure subject to a ceiling of Rs. 10,000 per project. Till March 15, 1971, a sum of Rs. 1,38,320 was sanctioned to 12 organisations, during 1970-71.
9.12. Lakshmibai College of Physical Education (Gwalior): During the year the college maintained a steady progress in extending improved facilities to its students. For the academic year 1970-71, 68 students (59 men and 9 women) and 14 students (11 men and 3 women) were admitted respectively to the 3-year degree course and the 2-year master's degree course in physical education. The college has now on its rolls 221 students, out of which 39 are women.
9.13. National Physical Efficiency Drive: The National Physical Efficiency Drive for 1970-71 was organised all over the country during the period between October 1970 to January, 1971. As against the actual Participation of over 10 lakh in 1969-70, a participation target of 18 lakh was attempted for 1970-71. The 9th All India Competition for National Awards in Physical Efficiency was organised at the Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior, on February 23 and 24, 1970
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39 competitors from various states and union territories parti- cipated in the Competition; 15 competitors, including 6 women, won the National Awards. The 10th All India Seminar on National Physical Efficiency Drive was held at Patiala on July 20-22, 1970 to assess the progress of the Drive and to devise ways and means for its further improvement. Some of the. recommendations have been accepted and implemented. The others are under examination.
9.14. Promotion of Yoga: In accordance with the policy to assist yogic institutions of an all-India character for the promotion of research and/or teacher training activities, the Kaivalayadham Shreeman Madhva Yoga Mandira Samiti, Lonavala (Poona) and the Vishwayatan Yoga Ashram (Katra Vaishnavi Devi, J & K, and New Delhi Centres) continued to receive assistance for their recurring as well as non-recurring expenditure.
9.15. Promotion of Popular Literature on Physical Education, Games and Sports: During the year the Frist All-India National Prize Competition for Published Literature on Physical Education, Sports and Games was organised through the Lakshmibai College of Physical Education (Gwalior). In all 44 entries were received. As against 5 prizes sanctioned, only 2 books have been recommended by the Evaluation Committee for a cash prize of Rs. 1000 each and for the purchase, by the Government, of 250 copies each of these two books for free distribution among the physical education training institutions and similar other institutions. Besides these, 3 more books have been recommended for purchase only.
9.16. Society for the National Institutes of Physical Educa- tion and Sports: The Society for the National Institutes of Physical Education and Sports, an autonomous body set up by the Government of India, continued to function as the governing body of the two national institutes, Lakshmibai College of Physical Education and National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
9.17. National Fitness Corps: In 1965, the National Fitness Corps Programme was accepted as the only integrated programme of physical education at school stage, to replace various programmes like ACC, NDS, etc. In consonance with this decision,
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the instructors in the National Fitness Corps Organisation paid out of the central exchequer were to be transferred to the states where they were working. As a part of the terms of such transfer, it was decided in 1969 that the states should be requested to create suitable vacancies in the appropriate department for the absorption of the instructors. It was also decided that the shortfall between pay and allowances fixed in the state scales of pay and the emoluments last drawn under the Union Government should be treated as personal pay and paid to the instructors for the duration of the 4th Plan period. It was also decided that the Union Government would meet in full the expenditure on salary and allowances of NDS instructors absorbed by the States for the entire Fourth Plan period. All the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations were requested to take over the NOS instructors. As a result of negotiations, the Govern- ments of Mysore, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Orissa and the Administrations of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Tripura have formally agreed to take over the NDS instructors. Other States,. except UP, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala also agreed in the course of discussions to take over the instructors; their formal communications were, however, awaited. Efforts to persuade the remaining State Governments to take over the staff, as originally agreed to in 1965, were continued.
9.18. National Council of Sports and Physical Education Shri R. N. Mirdha resigned from the presidentship of the All-India Council of Sports on his appointment as Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Shri J. B. Mallaradhya, Vice President was appointed as the Council's acting President in his place. The All India Council of Sports, however, ceased to function from November 13, 1970. During its tenure for all these years, the Council met 62 times, helping the Government with its valuable advice on policy matters, proposals for grants-in-aid from. sports federations in regard to various international sports and games meets and tournaments in this country and abroad and similar other matters.
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9.19. It was, however, felt for some time past that sports and physical education should be developed in conjunction. With this end in view, a broader advisory body called the National Council of Sports and Physical Education was formed on December 10, 1970, replacing the erstwhile All India Council of Sports and the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation. The National Council will be under the chairmanship of the Union Education Minister and its vice- chairman will be the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education & Youth Services and will have as members, Ministers of Sports in the states and union territories, representatives of some national sports federations, sports promoters, experts in both sports and physical education, and 6 MPs. The Council will normally meet once a year and its tenure will be, three years. The Council will have two standing committees and two expert committees, one each for sports and physical education to advise the Government on matters of a special and urgent nature.
9.20. Zonal Meetings: Zonal conferences of sports officials, sports promoters and administrators of the eastern, western and Hindi- speaking zones were held at Calcutta on August 19, 1970, at Bombay on September 22, 1970, and at Delhi on September 26, 1970 respectively under the chairmanship of Shri Bhakt Darshan, Minister of State in this Ministry. Problems faced in the development of sports and physical education in the states concerned were discussed at all these conferences.
9.21. Grants to State Sports Councils: An enlarged and revised scheme of financial assistance to state sports councils to enable them to construct utility stadia, to improve the existing stadia and to floodlight them to hold annual coaching camps, to purchase, sports equipment and to establish rural sports centres, has been launched during the year. Financial assistance by the Centre, which is on a sharing basis, has been rendered to the extent of Rs. 3,72,133.
9.22. Grants to Sports Federations: During the year grants totalling to Rs. 11,31,860 up to March 10, 1971 were paid
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to the national sports federations for holding annual championships, participation in international sports competition, visits of foreign teams to India, meeting the salaries of paid assistant secretaries, holding coaching camps, purchase of sports equipment and the implementation of items relating to sports under cultural agreements.
9.23. Indian Mountaineering Foundation: The Indian Mountaineering Foundation, an autonomous Organisation, received grants from this Ministry and the Foundation gave assistance in kind and money for seven expeditions, out of these grants. The total amount sanctioned by the Ministry to the Foundation during 1970-71 amounted to Rs. 1,13,000.
9.24. National Institute of Sports, Patiala: This Institute, established in 1961, has so far produced 1500 coaches in different games and sports. The national coaching scheme under which direct coaching is imparted in regional coaching centres by the state sports councils, in close co-operation, and with the assistance of the N.I.S., Patiala, has been revised and expanded to make the scheme more effective. The Government of India's grant to the Institute during 1970-71 amounted to Rs. 23 lakh.
9.25. Rural Sports Centres: A scheme of establishing 2500 rural sports centres during the Fourth Plan period has been launched. Assam, Mysore, Tamilnadu, Gujarat, J. & K., NEFA and Tripura, applied for financial assistance under the scheme and a total amount of Rs. 71,260 was sanctioned till February 2, 1971. Proposals from other states were awaited.
9.26. Rural Sports Competition: The first All India Rural Sports Competition was held at Patiala in March, 1971 in certain selected games by the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and was open only to non-student rural youth. The competition was initiated at the block level and culminated at the national level. Selection of state teams were made by the states on the basis of earlier competitions. The Central Government met
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the expenses on travelling and daily allowances of the national level meet. A sum of Rs. 1,33,120 was placed at the disposal of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala for the purpose.
9.27. National Sports Centre: It has been decided to start the construction of an indoor stadium of international specifications and to provide a cycle, track, at an estimated cost of about Rs. 2.50 crore in the Rajghat Sports Complex at New Delhi. This will later be developed into a full-fledged national sports centre for staging Asian and other international games in course of time.
9.28. Sports Talent Scholarships for School Students: A new scheme for the annual award of 200 scholarships at Rs. 50 per month on the basis of performance in national sports competitions and 400 scholarships at Rs. 25 per month on the basis of performance at state- level sports competitions for school students between the ages of 14 to 18 has been started this year. These scholarships are renewable every year for the duration of the awardee's study in school provided he continues to maintain proficiency in his sport and passes his annual examination. For the current financial year 200 scholarships at the national level and 398 scholarships at state level have been awarded.
9.29. India's Participation in Commonwealth Games and in VI Asian Games: India participated in the IX Commonwealth Games held at Edinburgh on July 16-25, 1970 and won five gold medals and three silver medals in wrestling, and 4 bronze medals, one each in athletics, weight-lifting and wrestling. India secured the 6th place among the 41 participating countries. India also participated in the VI Asian Games held at Bangkok on December 9-20, 1970 and won 6 gold medals, 9 silver and 10 bronze medals. It also established new Asian records in some items.
9.30. Arjuna Awards: The Vice-President gave away Arjuna Awards for 1969 to the following award-winners at a
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special ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan on November 24, 1970:
Athletics Hav. Harnek Singh
Badminton Shri Dipu Ghosh
Basketball Hav. Hari Dutt
Cricket Shri Bishan Singh Bedi
Football Shri Inder Singh
Shooting Kumari Bhuvaneshwari Kumari of Kotah
Swimming Shri Baidyanath Nath
Squash Rackets Shri Anil Nayar
Table Tennis Shri Mir Kasim Ali
Wrestling Master Chandgi Ram
9.31. The financial allocations for the major programmes described in this chapter for 1970-71 and 1971-72 are indicated below:
(Rs. in 000's
S. Item Provision for Budget
No. 1970-71 Estimates
1971-72
Original Revised
1 2 3 4 5
1. National Service Scheme and
National Sports Organisation 7,500 7,842 13,200
2. Youth Welfare Boards
and Committees 50 150 100
3. National Programme for Non-
Student Youth 3,502 3,502 12,500
4. Scouting and Guiding 100 150 300
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1 2 3 4 5
5. Assistance to Voluntary Or-
ganisations 200 100 200
6. Lakshmibai College of Physical
Education (Gwalior) 1,150 1,050 1,150
7. National Physical Efficiency
Drive 200 200 200
8. Promotion of Yoga 248 254 265
9. Promotion of Literature
on Physical Education, Sports
and Seminars on Physical
Education 58 30 60
10. National Fitness Corps 19,648 21,548 22,202.7
11. Grants to State Sports Council 1,200 500 1,000
12. Grants to National Sports
Federations 1,000 1,000 400
13. Indian Mountaineering Founda-
tion 100 100 122
14. National Institute of Sports, Pa-
tiala 1,000 2,200 2,900
15. Rural Sports Centres .. .. ..
16. Rural Sports Competition .. .. ..
17. National Sports Centre, Delhi 300 600 1,500
18. Sports Talent Search Schol-
arship 240 480 480