CHAPTER VII PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS
Sports Policy and Programmes The existing policies and programmes in which the thrust has been on broad-basing sports, particularly in rural and tribal areas, continued during 1977-78. The other salient features of the agreed sports policy and programme are making sports, games and physical education compulsory at the school level, providing physical facilities like play-fields, stadia, etc., where such facilities do not exist, establishing Rural Sports Centres, preserving open spares particularly in Urban Areas (if necessary by introducing suitable legislative measures) giving incentives to promising sportsmen and women, giving preference to such games and sports as are popular in a particular area and are inexpensive, and increasing the number and value of scholarships under the Sports Talent Search Scholarship Scheme, etc.
During the year implementation of guidelines issued by the Government to national sports associations/federations with a view to improving their functioning was pursued. These guidelines included regulation on the election of office-bearers of the Federations so as to ensure that the same office-bearers do not continue ordinarily for more than 4 years and in no case beyond 8 years, maintenance and regular submission to the Government of their audited accounts, appointment of qualified national coaches, holding annual competitions for junior and sub-junior age groups at inter-block, inter-district and inter-state level and, above all, preparing and submitting to Government short-term and perspective plans, with clearly defined targets, for the promotion of sports and games under their respective jurisdiction. Government has suggested to all national sports Associations/ Federations to amend their constitution accordingly,
All India Council of Sports The All India Council of Sports, which is a body set up the Ministry to advise it on matters relating to promotion of sports and games, was reconstituted for a period of three years with effect from 15.12.1976. The first meeting of the Council took place on 2nd March, 1977 and its Executive Committee
102
held four meetings including one emergent meeting in connection with hockey affairs. Some suggestions for reconstitution of the Council, making it more functional or investing it with functions of coordination, are under consideration.
Society for National Institute of Physical Education and Sports
(SNIPES) The Society for the National Institutes of Physical Education and Sports (SNIPES) was set up by the Government of India in 1965, as an autonomous body, to carry on the management and administration of the National Institutes of Physical Education and Sports, namely the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (Gwalior) and the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (Patiala), and to take steps for raising the standard of games and sports in the country by improving facilities and standards of training and coaching. The Society has also been entrusted with the advisory functions at National level in matters relating to promotion to Physical Education and Yoga. The Society was last reconstituted in 1976 for a period of three years. During the year 1977-78 Shri Sikandar Bakht, Union Minister of Works, Housing and Supply and Rehabilitation took over as the Chairman of the Society. During the year the Society held four meetings.
A. PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND PHYSICAL EFFICIENCY
Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Gwalior The primary function of the College is to produce high carlibre leadership in the field of physical education. For the academic session 1977-78, with the admission of 146 students (including 32 Women) to its three-year Bachelor's Degree Course and 27 (including 2 women) to its two-years Master's Degree Course in Physical Education, the total student strength of the College in its regular and residential courses was 476 (including 96 women). Besides this, the College admitted 45 students to, the first year of its three year Master's Degree (Summer Course) in Physical Education for the inservice personnel. The College continued to attract students from all parts of the country including a few from abroad.
The College continued to provide refresher/reorientation training facilities for inservice personnel in physical education and sports. It also continued to implement, on an agency basis, the
103
Central Schemes of National Physical Efficiency Drive and the National Prize Competition for Published Literature on Physical Education and Sports on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare.
National Physical Efficiency Drive The Scheme which was introduced by the Central Government in 1959 to popularise among the people particularly youth, the concept of physical fitness and also to arouse their enthusiasm for higher standards of physical efficiency and achievement, continued to be implemented in collaboration with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and certain selected Central agencies.
The 1976-77 National Physical Efficiency Drive had an all time record participation of over 22 lakhs. The 1977-78 Drive was launched in the country from October, 1977 to January, 1978.
The XVII All India Competition for the National Awards in Physical Efficiency was held at Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu) from the 24th to 26th February, 1978 with 122 Competitors, including 51 women, from 13 States and Union Territories participating therein 20 competitors, including 10 women, won the National Awards in Physical Efficiency.
On the basis of the data collected by it from the States, the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education (Gwalior) has evolved revised national norms of Physical Efficiency for the Scheme.
Promotion of Yoga The Kaivalyadham Shreeman Madhav Yoga Mandir Samiti, Lonavla (Poona) and the Vishwayatan Yoga Ashram (New Delhi and Katra Vaishnav Devi) continued to get financial assistance for their maintenance and developmental expenditure, as per the approved pattern of the scheme, for their teacher-training and research programmes.
National Prize Competition for the Published Literature in Physical
Education and Sports The Seventh National Prize Competition for the Published Literature on Physical Education and Sports (1976-77) was organised through the Lakshmibai National College of Physical
104
Education. Five books were selected for a National Prize of Rs. 1,000/- each.
In order to encourage and attract entries of better quality for the Competition, value of the `National Award' has been raised effective from 1977-78. The Competition now offers three categories of the National Awards as under :
(i) National Award (Category I) of Rs. 5,000/-. One Award
(ii) National Award (Category II) of Rs. 2,500/-.Two Awards
(iii)National Award (Category III) of Rs, 1,500/-Two Awards
The Rules of the Competition provide that in case no entry is found suitable for the Awards of Category I and II, the amounts earmarked for these Awards can be utilised for giving a larger number of Awards under Category II and/or III.
The Eighth National Prize Competition for 1977-78 was organised according to the revised rules and five books have been selected for the National Awards' as under
National Award (Category II)
National Award (Category III)
B. SPORTS AND GAMES
Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala The primary object of the Institute is to produce sports coaches of high calibre in various sports disciplines and to provide training facilities, to the national teams for international competitions. The Institute offers the following training courses:-
(i) 10-month Regular Diploma Course.
(ii) 6-month Condensed Diploma Course.
(iii) 6-Week Certificate in Sports Course.
(iv) Refresher Course for Inservice Coaches.
For the academic session 1977-78, 407 trainees (including 40 women) have been admitted by the Institute of Patiala and its South Centre at Bangalore in 16 sports disciplines. The intake capacity of the Institute, inclusive of its South Centre, is 420. Kabaddi and Kho-Kho have been included as new disciplines at the Institute's South Centre from 1977-78. Since its inception in 1961, the Institute has produced 3,568 qualified
105
Coaches in various sports disciplines. Out of these 79 Coaches belonged to foreign countries. Besides its regular coaching programme during the year, the Institute Organised Certificate in Sports Course for teachers and other numbering over 700 persons.
The Swimming Pool Gymnasium Complex of the. Institute, has been completed in October, 1977 at a cost of about Rs. 50 lakhs.
The 112-bed Dhyan Chand International Hostel of the Institute was completed during the year at a cost of about Rs. 16 lakhs.
Under the National Coaching Scheme the Institute has a cadre of 400 coaches, which include several ex-international and National Champions. Fifty additional posts have been sanctioned for 1977-78 raising the Cadre strength to 450.
The Institute organised 42 coaching camps in the various sports disciplines during 1977-78. This apart, it has been organising Solidarity Courses under the joint auspices of International Olympic Committee, Indian Olympic Association and the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports. Four such courses have so far been conducted in boxing, Wrestling, Volleyball and Football.
The Institute hosted during October, 1977, the VII International Track and Field Coaches Congress-Renowned, track and field men from various parts of the world, including Mr. Otto Szymiczek, President, International Track and Field Coaches Association, attended the Congress.
In collaboration with the State Sports Councils and Nehru Yuvak Kendras, Coaching Centres were continued in the State capitals and district headquarters. The Regional Coaching Centres continued to function at : Gauhati, Patna, Madras, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Jullundur, Delhi, Bangalore, Jaipur, Meerut, Bhopal, Gandhinagar, Nagpur, Srinagar/Jammu, Imphal, Panaji, Port Blair, Agartala, Chandigarh, Gangtok, Nahan, Mandi, Dharamsala and Calcutta. Steps are afoot to have similar centres at Kohima, and Shillong.
During the year Institute's Coaches were deputed on foreign assignments to Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Mauritius and Nepal under the Bilateral Cultural Exchange Programmes. The
106
Institute also received a Judo Coach from Japan under the Indo- Japanese Cultural Exchange Programme and a Football Coach from U.K. through the British Council.
Lord Killanin, President, International Olympic Committee, visited the Institute on the 29th November, 1977 and complimented the Institute for organising IOC Solidarity Courses and International Conferences.
Grants to State Sports Councils for Promotion of Sports and
Physical Education Grants amounting to about Rs. 25 lakhs were released to the State Sports Councils in States and Union Territories during 1977-78. These grants were even for following purposes:
(i) 7 Annual Coaching Camps at State level;
(ii) Establishment of 864 Rural Sports Centres;
(iii)Purchase of Sports equipment of non-expendible nature work Rs. 1,02,375/-.
(iv) Development of 17 Playfields.
(v) (a) Construction of 27 Stadia/Sports Complex.
(b) Construction of 3 Swimming Pools. (vi) Improvement of Sports and Physical Education faci- lities in It Physical Education training Institutions.
Grants to National Sports Federations During 1977-78 grants totalling about Rs. 22 lakhs were sanctioned to the national sports federations for the following purposes :
(i) Holding of 37 Annual Championships.
(ii) Participation in 21 International Sports events.
(iii) Visits of 29 foreign sports teams to India.
(iv) Payment of Salaries of Paid Assistant Secretaries to 10 National Sports Federations/Associations.
(v) Holding of 42 coaching camps.
Rural Sports
All India Rural Sports Tournaments The country-wide programme of Rural Sports Competitions was launched by the Government of India in 1970-71 with the
107
twin objects of bringing a major segment of rural youth into the mainstream of the country's sports activities and also to spot and nurtures sports talent therefrom. The programme has gradually gained momentum and more and more rural youth, both boys and girls, have been brought within its fold. The programme now involves a total annual participation of about 12 lakh rural youth right from the block upto the national level. The programme has also helped in broadbasing sports and games activities in the rural and tribal areas and the rural youth are joining the competitions through participation in State and national level championships. Significantly, the tribal boys from Khunti (Bihar) re-established their supremacy in the Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament by clinching the title in November, 1977. Out of the 16 players selected for the Indian Hockey team for the World Cup, 1978 four players were drawn from the tribal areas.
The Eighth National Rural Sports Tournaments for 1977-78 were held as
under :
Sports Events Venue Month
(1) (2) (3)
Athletics, Hockey and Basketball New Delhi October,
1977
Football, Volleyball and Gymnastics Nadia January,
West Bengal 1978
Sports events in Kabaddi, Kho-Kho (Wrestling and Archery, originally fixed at Vijayawada during November, 1977 had to be dropped due to the devastation caused by the cyclone in Andhra Pradesh.
Women's Sports Festival
Third National Sports Festival for Women (1977) The National Sports Festival for Women, originally started in 1975 as a part of the celebrations connected with the International Women's year, has now become a major annual feature of the country's sports calendar. The Festival is organised by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (Patiala) on behalf of the Government of India. The Third National Sports Festival, for Women, which was organised at Bangalore from the 22nd to 26th November, 1977 in collaboration with the
108
Karnataka State Sports Council, involved over 1500 participants including officials. Women competitors from twenty-six States and Union Territories participated in the Festival in Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Gymnastics, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Lawn- Tennis, Volleyball and Swimming.
The march-past trophy was won by Nagaland; Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh secured the second and third place respectively. Maharashtra won the Athletic Championships and Hockey title; Karnataka won Badminton and Lawn Tennis titles; Punjab clinched the Basketball and Gymnastics Championship; West Bengal won first place in Volleyball and Kabaddi, Madhya Pradesh won Kho-Kho Championship; Andhra Pradesh won the Table Tennis final and Kerala won the Swimming Championship.
Sports Talent Search Scholarships During the year, the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare, awarded 400 national-level scholarships and 800 State-level scholarships to school students proficient in sports to help them in their studies, develop their talent in sports and enable them to have nutritious diet. In addition, 145 national level and 290 state-level scholarships awarded in the previous year have also been renewed.
With effect from the beginning of the academic year 1977-78, the value of the Scholarships has been raised from Rs. 600/- to Rs. 900/- per annum each for national level and from Rs. 300/to Rs. 600/- per annum each for the state-level scholarships.
National Sports Organisation The scheme aims at improving the sports standards in universities and colleges and helping talented sportsmen/women to achieve excellence. Implemented through the University Grants Commission and the Association of Indian Universities, the scheme provides for financial assistance for (a) provision of physical facilities for sports, (b) holding of coaching camps at regional and national levels for bright sportsmen in universities and (c) award of scholarships to outstanding sportsmen and women in colleges and universities. Under the development of physical facilities programme of this scheme upto the end of 1976-77. 21 Universities and 48 colleges had been sanctioned grants by the U.G.C. totalling Rs. 67.87 lakhs. During the same period
109
43 Universities and 300 colleges were sanctioned financial assistance for development of playfields to the extent of Rs. 25.84 lakhs.
During the first 3 years of the 5th Plan Period 300 fresh scholarships to the talented sportsmen and women were awarded and 191 were renewed by the Association of Indian Universities at an estimated expenditure of Rs. 3.40 lakhs. During the same period a sum of Rs. 6.25 lakhs was spent by the Association of Indian Universities on holding 20 coaching-cum-competition programmes involving 734 participants and 12 Combined University teams Camps involving 183 participants. During 1977-78, a grant of Rs. 3.81 lakhs has been given to the Association of Indian Universities and of Rs. 10 lakhs to the University Grants Commission.