 PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS

Sports Policy and Programmes

:- Pending finalisation of the new National Policy on Sports, which is still under formulation in consultation with the All India Council of Sports, the Government of India's programme for promotion of physical education and sports during the year continued to be implemented within the broad framework of the guidelines for promotion of physical education and sports laid down in the National Policy an Education as adopted by Parliament in 1968 as well as the recommendations made by the Working Group on the 6th Plan Central Schemes of Physical Education and Sports. The salient features of the programme, as implemented during the year, were as under:

All India Council of Sports

: The All India Council of Sports, which has been set up by the Government of India to advise it on matters pertaining to promotion of sports and games, and which was last reconstituted for a three-year term in July 1978 under the Chairmanship of Field Marshal S. H. F. J. Manekshaw, continued to function during the year. The Council considered the Draft National Sports Policy prepared by one of its Sub-Committees and decided to circulate the same for comments among the National Sports Federations/State Sports Councils/Universities/Sports writers/Journalists/State Governments/Union Territories/Sports Promoters etc., before finalising its recommendations and forwarding them to the Government.

In the context of the Government decision to approve the proposals of the Indian Olympic Association to host the 9th Asian Games (1982) at Delhi the Council also initiated formulation of its plans for the preparation of the Indian teams for the forthcoming Asian Games.

The Council held three meetings and its Executive Committee met five times during the year.

Society for the National Institute of Physical Education and Sports (SNIPES)

: The Society for the National Institutes of

Physical Education and Sports (SNIPES), set up in 1965 as an autonomous body to carry on the management and administration of the two National Institutes of Physical Education and Sports, namely, the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala and the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Gwalior and also to initiate steps for raising standards, of games and sports in the country through the National Coaching Scheme, continued to function under the Chairmanship of Dr. Amrik Singh, Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities. The SNIPES held four meetings during the year.

In May, 1979 the SNIPES convened a Conference of the Presidents and Secretaries of the State Sports Councils to assess the working and exchange views on the working of the National Coaching Scheme as well as implementation of the various Central programmes like Rural Sports, Women's Sports and Sports Talent Search Scholarships by the SNIPES on agency basis.

The SNIPES set up two separate Review Committees to assess the functioning of its two National Institutes and to recommend the lines on which their future development should take place. The Review Committee on the Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education has since completed its assignment and its recommendations are receiving attention of the SNIPES and the Government. On the basis of these recommendations; Government have sanctioned introduction of M.Phil. course in Physical Education at the College from 1980-81 academic session with an intake of ten. The Review Committee of the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports is also expected to complete its assignment by the end of the year.

A. PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND YOGA

Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Gwalior

: The primary object of the College, is to train high calibre physical education teachers for educational institutions and other agencies. For the academic session 1979-80, with the admission of 96 students, including 14 girls to the Bachelor of Physical Education Course and 24 students (including two girls) to the Master of Physical Education Course, the total student strength at the college in the regular and residential courses was 368. Besides these, 95 students were on the rolls of the College for the 3-year Master of Physical Education (Summer) Course. Besides its teacher training programme, the College continued to offer extension services and refresher courses for the inservice personnel

in the field of physical education and sports. Further, it continued to implement, on agency basis, the Central programmes like National Physical Fitness Programme, National Prize Competition for the Published Literature on Physical Education and Sports, on behalf of the Ministry of Education & Culture. Since its establishment in 1957, fill the academic year 1978-79, the College has produced 1504 Graduates and 339 Post-Graduates in Physical Education.

During the year, the College played host to the combined Conference of the All India Association of Colleges of Physical Education, National Association of University Teachers on Physical Education and the Indian Association of Teachers of Health, Physical Education and Recreation involving participation of about 150 delegates from different parts of the country, wherein the matters pertaining to the profession of Physical Education and Sports in general were discussed. Beside this, the College also played host to the Seminar on Research Promotion and Innovations for Evaluation in Physical Education sponsored by the University Grants Commission.

National Physical Fitness Programme

: The Scheme, was in- troduced by the Central Government in 1959 under the nomenclature of "National Physical Efficiency Drive" to popularise among the people the concept of physical fitness and also to arouse their enthusiasm for high standards of physical efficiency and achievement. It was renamed as the "National Physical Fitness Programme" during the year and continued to be implemented in collaboration with the State Governments, Union Territory Administrations and certain selected agencies. The Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Gwalior continued to function as the Central agency for the implemen- tation of the programme. The 1978-79 National Physical Efficiency Drive, for which the final results have since become available, had a total participation of about 19 lakhs out of which over seven lakh participants were declared winners. On the basis of data collected by the LNCPE as well as the discussions held at the National level Seminar on the scheme held in Gangtok, in May, 1979, the scheme was modified and revised norms were laid down for the various test batteries under the scheme. Further, to make the coverage more broadbased the number of categories of the Participants was also enlarged and the revised categories now provide for Sub-Juniors, Juniors, Seniors and Adults. The programme was implemented during 1979-80 on the basis of the modified Pattern of the scheme.

The 19th All India Competition for National Awards in Physical Fitness was held at Durgapur (W.B.) from 22nd to 24th February, 1980. Out of 116 participants, who participated in the competitions from different States and Union Territories, 29 persons including 14 women won the National Awards.

Promotion of Yoga

: This scheme which is part of the over- all programme of the Ministry for development of physical education and sports, continued to be implemented during the year. The Kaivalyadhama Shreeman Madhava Yoga Mandir Samiti Lonavala (Pune) continued to be assisted for its maintenance and developmental expenditure, as per the approved pattern of the scheme, for its teacher training and/or research programmes. During the year the Samiti also conducted three Yoga Camps for the general public for popularisation of Yogic concept of physical fitness among the public.

A Model Syllabus of Yoga Education for the Schools has also been prepared in consultation with the Yoga Assessment Committee set up by the SNIPES.

B. SPORTS AND GAMES

Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala and the National Coaching Scheme

: The Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, established by the Government of India in 1961. alongwith its Southern Centre located at Bangalore (established in 1975), has been entrusted with the responsibility of providing high calibre coaches in various sports disciplines and also to implement the National Coaching Scheme through a countrywide network of Regional Sports Coaching Centres which are being run in collaboration with the State Sports Councils and Nehru Yuvak Kendras. With the introduction of two-year Post-graduate Masters course from July, 1979, the Institute now offers the following training courses in Sports Coaching :

(i) 22 months Master's Diploma Course in Sport, Coaching,

(ii) 10 months Regular Diploma Course in Sports Coaching.

(iii) Six months Condensed Diploma Course in Sports Coaching.

(iv) Six weeks Certificate Course in Sports Coaching.

(v) Refresher Course for the Inservice personnel.

During the 1979-80 academic session 427 trainee coaches, including 15 foreign trainees, were admitted to the regular and

condensed courses at Patiala and Bangalore in 16 sports disciplines. Besides this, two persons each in Athletics, Basketball, Football, Gymnastics and Hockey were admitted to the Masters Diploma Course. Since its inception in 1961, the Institute has produced 4,412 qualified Sports Coaches including 98 from foreign countries. Besides this regular coaching programme, the Institute also conducted during the year a Certificate Course in Sports simultaneously at Patiala, Bangalore, Gwalior and Delhi for 592 teachers and others.

Under the Nation Coaching Scheme, the Institute has now about 500 coaches working all over the country including several Ex- International and National Champions. The cadre strength of the coaches is expected to be raised to 550 by the end of the year.

The Institute organised 52 National Coaching Camps, at the requests of the National Sports, Federations, to prepare the national teams for their participation in international fixtures. The Institute also played host to the International Olympic Solidarity Courses organised by the Indian Olympic Association for the benefit of the Indian coaches in Swimming, Volleyball and Boxing. Besides this, an Asian Regional Sports Medicine Course was also conducted with full financial support of the International Olympic Solidarity in November, 1979. This course was attended by 26 doctors including 12 from 10 Asian countries besides India.

Under bilateral Cultural Exchange Programmes the Institute exchanged three coaches in various sports disciplines.

The governing body of the Institute accepted an offer made by the West Bengal Government to establish the Eastern Centre of the Institute as Salt Lake Area, Calcutta where the State Government has promised to provide the requisite physical facilities for the establishment of the Centre at their own cost. The Centre is likely to start functioning as soon as the requisite facilities promised by the State Government are ready.

The Institute has also been actively associated with India's preparation for the forthcoming 1982 Asian Games which are to be held at New Delhi in October and November, 1982. The Institute is engaged in formulation of detailed plans, in consultation with the All India Council of Sports and the National Sports Federations, for providing special coaching facilities to the Indian teams for their participation in the Asian Games. The

Institute has also been rendering technical services to the Organising Committee of the Asian Games in developing physical facilities in connection with the Asian Games.

Grants to State Sports Councils for Promotion of Sports

: In consultation with and on the recommendation of All India Council of Sports financial assistance under the scheme, as per the approved pattern, was released to the State Sports Councils in States and U.Ts. during the year for the development of the following facilities for promotion of sports :

(i) Organising 12 State level Coaching Camps.

(ii) Establishment and/or maintenance of 1,038 Rural Sports Centres.

(iii) Purchase of Sports equipment worth Rs. 3.65 lakhs.

(iv) Development of 86 Playgrounds; and

(v) (a) Construction of 21 Indoor/Outdoor Stadia.

(b) Construction of one Swimming Pool.

Grants to National Sports Federations

: During 1979-80, grants amounting to Rs. 32 lakhs were sanctioned to the National Sports Federations for various purposes, viz. (i) Grant of passage cost to 37 National Sports Federations for sending teams abroad for participation in international events; (ii) Holding of 21 coaching camps at Netaji Subhas, National Institute of Sports, Patiala/Bangalore for preparing teams prior to their participation in international events; (iii) Holding of 37 annual coaching camps; (iv) Receiving of sports teams from abroad and sending of Indian sports teams abroad; and (v) Assistance to 23 National Sports Federations for Payment of salary of Paid Assistant Secretaries. The pattern of financial assistance under the scheme has also been liberalised.

All India Rural Sports Tournaments

: The country-wide pro- gramme of Rural Sports Tournaments, was launched by the Central Government in 1970-71 with the twin objects of involving a major segment of the youth in the rural areas into the mainstream of country's sports, activities and also to spot and nurture sports talent. The programme now involves a total annual participation of about 15 lakhs rural youth right from the block level up to the National level. The programme is being organised by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, on agency basis, on behalf of the Government of India.

The 10th All India Rural Sports Tournament was organised during 1979-80 in the following sub-Groups:

        
                                          
        
               Games                              Venue and time
        
                                          
        
        I.  Swimming                        Patiala (Punjab) April, 1979
        
        
        II.  Football, Volleyball           Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir),
             and Gymnastics                     October, 1979
        
        III. Athletics, Hockey and          Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) Jan-
             Basketball                     uary-February, 1980
        
        IV.  Kabaddi, Kho-Kho,              Coimbatore (Tamilnadu) Feb-
             Wrestling and Archery.            ruary, 1980

National Sports Festival for Women

: The National Sports Festival for Women, first organised in 1975 as a part of the celebrations connected with the International Women's Year, is now an important annual feature of the country's sports calendar. It invoves participation of about 2,000 young women from all over the country in ten sports disciplines namely, Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Gymnastics, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis and Volleyball. The festival is being organised on agency basis by the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, on behalf of the Government of India.

The 5th National Sports Festival for Women was held at Jabalpur (M.P.) in January, 1980 in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh State Sports Council. About 2,000 women from 28 States and Union Territories participated in the festival

Sports Talent Search Scholarships

: In order to provide facilities to young boys and girls at school stage, talented in sports and showing promise and aptitude for sports, to develop their talent in sports and to enable them to have nutritious diet during their studentship, the Government of India introduced the Sports Talent Search Scholarships scheme in 1970-71. The Scheme provides for award of 400 National Level Scholarships and 800 State level scholarships every year, each of the value of Rs. 900 and Rs. 600 per annum respectively, for students proficient in games and sports and selected respectively on the basis of sports competitions at state/national level. Besides this, the Scholarships awarded during the previous years are renewed in the following year subject to the scholarship holder maintaining/improving his or her performance.

During the, year 1979-80, 400 national level and 800 State level fresh scholarships were awarded under the scheme. In addition, 150 National level and 300 State level scholarships awarded in the previous year were renewed.

National Sports Organisations

: The scheme aims at im- proving sports standards among College and University students and helping the talented sportsmen and women to achieve excellence in their respective sports disciplines. Under the scheme financial assistance, is extended to the colleges and universities through the University Grants Commission for development of physical facilities for sports and games like construction of gymnasia, development of play-grounds, etc. Besides this, 100 scholarships annually, of the, value of Rs. 1,000 per annum each, are awarded through the Association of Indian Universities to outstanding sportsmen and women in colleges and universities. Besides this, assistance is also extended through the Association of Indian Universities for holding coaching-cum-sports competition in selected sports disciplines.

With a view to reviewing the functioning of the scheme the All India Council of Sports set up a Sub-Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Kanti Choudhry, Vice-Chancellor, Jabalpur University. The Sub- Committee has submitted its report which has been recommended by All India Council of Sports. The recommendations of the Sub-Committee are under consideration of the Government.

Arjuna Awards

: The Scheme of Arjuna Awards, which is being implemented since 1961 provides for recognition of the talented sportsmen and women who have distinguished themselves in different sports disciplines during the year. As per the modified pattern of the scheme, the Arjuna award winners are now given a scroll, a bronze statue and a scholarship of Rs. 200 per month for a period of two years and free entry to any National/International sports fixture played in India.

On the recommendation of the All India Council of Sports, 16 outstanding sportsmen and women have been selected by the Government for grant of Arjuna Awards for 1978-79.

The awards have since been given away at a function held on March 31, 1980.

India's participation in International Sports Events

: More than 85 Indian teams in the disciplines of Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Body-building, Bridge, Billiards, Basketball. Chess, Cricket. Cycling, Carrom, Equestrian, Football, Gaff, Hockey,

Handball, Lawn Tennis, Power-lifting, Polo, Squash Rackets, Swimming, Shooting, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Weightlifting were sent abroad during the year for participation in friendly matches. Of them, passage cost of 37 teams was borne by the Government of India and facilities for coaching for a large number of National teams prior to their participation in, the events abroad were also provided by the Government.

Foreign teams from various parts of the world visited India for participation in international sports events or friendly matches in the disciplines of Athletics, Boxing, Badminton, Bridge, Billiards, Snookers, Basketball, Carrom, Cricket, Football, Golf, Kabaddi, Lawn Tennis, Motor race, Polo, Table Tennis and Wrestling.

Compilation of Directory of the National Sports Federations

: In order that those interested in sports may have some basic information about the National Sports Federations in the country, a compilation giving details about various National Sports Federations, names and addresses of their office bearers and number of their State Units, position of audit of their accounts etc. has been compiled and circulated among the National Sports Federations, All India Council of Sports, State Sports Councils, State Governments, Universities, Physical Education Training Institutions etc.

Recognition of National Sports Federations

: On the recom- mendation of the All India Council of Sports, recognition, has been granted by the Government during the year to (a) Archery Association of India; (b) Women's Cricket Association of India, and (c) Indian Power-lifting Federation as the National Sports Federation in the respective disciplines.

Seminar on Sports Organisation and Administration for Asian Countries

: On the invitation, of Federal Republic of Germany a two-member delegation consisting of S/S M. R. Krishna and D. S. Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and members of the Executive Committee of the Indian Olympic Association respectively, attended the Seminar on Sports Organisation and Administration for the Asian Countries hold at Frankfurt from 9th September to 6th October, 1979.

IX Asian Games, 1982

: As a follow-up of the Government's approval of the proposal of the Indian Olympic Association of hosting the IX Asian Games in 1982, the Indian

Olympic Association, in accordance with the rules of the Asian Games Federation, has set up an Organising Committee for organising and actual conducting of the games. The Organising Committee has set up a number of Sub-Committees to attend to the various connected organisational matters in detail.

The Government have set up a Steering Committee to ensure that the facilities required for the conduct of the Asian Gaines are provided according to the standard prescribed and on time and that the funds sanctioned for the purpose are utilised in the manner approved by the Government and also to coordinate the action taken by the various Ministries/Departments of Central Government and offer facilities in connection with the Games. The Steering Committee has held three meetings and the various SubCommittees set up by it have also been meeting to attend to the assignments given to them.

The West German architect who was the Chief Architect at the Munich Olympics stadia was invited by the Government of India to advise them on the construction programme to be undertaken in connection with the Asian Games, 1982. Action has also been initiated by the All India Council of Sports and the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala to chalk out their special training programme for preparation of the Indian Competitors for the Games.