VI. SPEECH OF SHRI MUKUL WASNIK,
 MINISTER OF STATE FOR YOUTH
 AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
 

Central Advisory Board on Education has before it, an agenda of great significance having vital implications for the growth of our young generation and future of the community. As we know, the National Sports Policy adopted by us emphasises the need for making sports and physical education an integral part of the curriculum in schools and college. This resolve was reiterated in the National Policy on Education 1986. Though the desirability of such a move is unquestionable very little has been done to translate the policy resolve into practical action.

After every debacle in international sports, there is criticism that a nation of over 850 million people has not produced even few performances of international standard. In the shadow of such a criticism, the fact that, the playing population of our country is very small, is often forgotten. Any Programme of Action for improvement of sports in the country has recognise this basic fact. The emphasis an integrating sports and physical education in school curriculum emanates from the realisation that we need to expand our base of playing population

The health and physical attributes of our children constitute another aspect which is no less important. This is a goal in itself. The fact that only healthy children possessing good motor qualities may lead us to the search of strong sports persons of future needs no elaboration.

Emphasis on physical education from the beginning of the process of learning will create attitude and interest towards a sports culture, which is extremely vital. This will not only make up for the deficiencies in the school curriculum but also create an environment where sports and games could be viewed as a career, capable of offering attractive benefit in life.

This issue has been discussed in the various forums in the past. But several constraints have been cited. It has been mentioned that the financial implications are heavy and therefore it cannot be taken up keeping in view the existing commitments in the education sector. The difficulties in the availability of playfields, sports equipment, trained instructors and coaches have also been mentioned. In the background of such constraints, the answers have to be simple and practical. I am glad that the Sub Committee set up by the Central Advisory Board on Education to examine this issue has come up with recommendations which are well thought, practical, cogent and oriented towards the objective.

The Committee has recommended that physical education and sports should be made a compulsory part of the curriculum and assigned at least 40 minutes everyday for all school going children. I feet this recommendation can be implemented by all States immediately. The Committee has also suggested an annual physical fitness test . We feel a system of evaluation has to be provided for so as to assess the fitness as well as overall participation of the child in physical education and sport throughout the year.

The Committee has also taken a pragmatic view on the issue of physical education teachers and recommended that at the primary and middle school level, it would not be appropriate to provide for separate physical education teachers. Instead, subject teachers, in these schools have to be trained as physical education teachers. This has to be achieved by making every teacher trainee participate compulsorily and vigorously in physical education and sports in pre- service and in-service education courses. The DIETs for primary and upper primary and B.Ed. colleges for secondary level have a crucial role to play because they are the main, centres for pre-service and in-service training of teachers. We would undertake to train the trainers in the DIETS through our LNCPEs at Gwalior and Trivandrum.

The Committee has also made certain recommendations, which have financial implications, such as setting up of a sports fund in each State to which the State and Central Government would contribute equally for creation of sports infrastructure in schools and charging of sports fees from the students on a graded scale for meeting the requirements of consumables and participation in tturnaments at the school level. It has been recommended that Rs. 75 crores may be ear- marked by Central Government annually towards their contribution to the fund. An equivalent amount would be required from the States. The Government of India hope to make its contribution to the sports fund in small way during 1994-95. We would like the States also to make a beginning.

The Committee has recommended that about 300-500 special schools for nurturing of talented sports-persons should be set up in the country. We would like all State Governments to identify atleast one school per district so that subsequently funds can be channelised for creation of sports infrastructure in such schools.

The Committee has recommended that special weightage be given in admission to children who perform well in sports. We would like State Governments to take a policy decision in this regard and request the universities in their States to implement this recommendation.

The Committee has recommended that Yoga practice should be given a great deal of emphasis in tea-

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cher training so that it becomes possible to introduce Yoga in all schools subsequently. In the interim it has been recommended that Yoga should be introduced only from the secondary stage and upwards and held only where trained teachers are available.

I would request the State Governments to give their full support to this report, as it will lead to overall improvement in the physical health of our children in schools and ultimately raise the standard of Indian sports.