APPENDIX A (l) REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPORTS AND GAMES, SCOUTING AND GUIDING, AND NATIONAL DISCIPLINE SCHEME

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Government of India's programme for the development of Physical education is now under implementation. This programme is generally based on the recommendations of the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation which has been constituted by the Government to advise on the coordination of all programmes and activities in the field of Physical education and Recreation.

A brief resume of the progress of the Government's programme for the promotion of Physical education is given as under.

(i) Publication, of a National Plan of Physical Education

A National Plan of Physical Education and Recreation prepared by the, Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation has since been published by the Government. The Plan after making a survey of the present facilities available in the country makes valuable suggestions, immediate and long-term, for their improvement and for making them more effective. An important feature of the Plan relates to the recommendations regarding two ,syllabuses of Physical education, one for boys and the other, girls separately up to Higher Secondary stage. The introduction of these two syllabuses in the schools, it is hoped, will go a long way in bringing uniformity of Physical education facilities in the schools in various parts of the country with due regard to local variations. To make the syllabuses yield their full value the Government have undertaken preparation of two illustrated hand books on the two syllabuses, containing details of each activity with an explanatory note thereon. Requisite material for this purpose has been collected from various State Governments. The Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation hag recommended that for the popularisation of the two syllabuses, the State Governments should translate both the syllabuses and handbooks into regional languages and publish them to be sold at cost price.

Another important recommendation of the Plan pertains to the laying down of minimum 'Norms' of physical fitness for the various age groups of boys and girls.

Copies of the National Plan have been circulated among the State Governments, and Union Territories for their information and for adoption of the proposals contained in it.

The Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation has also taken steps to prepare rules for the recognition of diplomas and certificates of Physical Training institutions in the country. The Board has entrusted a Committee of its own with the task of scrutinising the syllabuses of studies of the various institutions for the recognition of diplomas and certificates awarded by them.

259

In order that Physical education should get its due place in the general educational set up of the country, especially at the school level, the Board had recommended that Physical education should form a subject of school examinations with the proviso that pupils who are of poor organic health and have physical handicaps may be granted exemption from the examination when certified by the school doctor. The Board, however, recommended different treatment at collegiate level and suggested that more emphasis should be laid on inter-class or inter-department- competitions so that a large number of students may have the chance to participate. The Board further recommended that those who show the potential capacity to reach a high standard may be given special coaching, and teams for the inter-college competitions should be selected from amongst them.

In order to know the extent to which Physical education is at present being imparted to the students of schools and colleges in the country, the Central Government have requested State Governments and universities to state the extent to which Physical education has been made compulsory for school and college students.

PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION UNDER SECOND FIVE- YEAR PLAN

The programme for the promotion of Physical education during the Second Five-Year Plan is essentially based on the recommendations of the Board as contained in the National Plan of Physical Education and Recreation with a total provision of Rs. 120 lakhs for the entire Plan period. The following two schemes have been included in the Government's programme for the development of Physical education during the 2nd Plan Period:-

(i) Establishment of National College of Physical Education-Rs. 70 lakhs

(ii) Promotion of Physical education and Recreation activities-Rs. 50 lakhs

(i) NATIONAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

An important recommendation of the Board related to the establishment of a National College of Physical Education providing facilities for a three-year degree course in Physical education. After considering the various aspects of the problems the, Government decided to pet up a National College of Physical Education to impart a three-year degree course in Physical education at the under-graduate level and later on to provide facilities for advanced studies and research as well. This scheme is now under implementation.

The college which has now been named after Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi has started functioning at Gwalior from. 17th August, 1957 as a part of the 1957 Centenary Celebrations. It is now situated in a temporary building at Gwalior and it will be the only institution of its kind in the country providing three-year degree course in Physical education.

The scheme for the establishment of the College envisages a non- recurring expenditure of Rs. 32 . 5 lakhs including the cost of the buildings and for the provision of other necessary facilities and amenities. The recurring expenditure

260

for 1957-58 has been estimated at about Rs. 1.68 lakhs and it is likely to go up to about Rs. 7 lakhs by 1960-61. So far the Government have paid Rs. 1,10,000 to the Board of Governors of the College to meet the initial expenditure in connection with the establishment of the College. For the purpose of administration and control of the College an autonomous Board of Governors of eight persons has been set up with a Chairman nominated by the Government of India. Initially the College has started with 30 seats which will be progressively increased and when in full operation, it will admit 100 students every year. Although a Coeducational institution, only men- students have been admitted in the first year. The course of studies at the College will cover a very wide field of Physical education. The College curriculum. also provides facilities for training in Yogic exercises and indigenous Physical cultural activities.

(ii) PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES

On the recommendations of the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation, the Government have also approved the following schemes for implementation during the Second Five-Year Plan period:-

        
                   
                                                                     Rs.
                                                                  (lakhs)
             
        
        (a)  Strengthening institutions of. Physical education      16.5
        
        (b)  Implementation of syllabuses of Physical education      7.5
        
        (c)  Research in Physical education                           2.5
        
        (d)  National Physical efficiency test drive                  2.5
        
        (e)  Seminars on Physical education                           3.5
        
        (f)  Award of visiting fellowship and scholarships           5.0
        
        (g)  Financial assistance to vyayamshalas and akharas        2.5
        
        (h)  Other measures for promoting Physical education and 
        Recreation                                                  10.0
        
        
        
                                                       Total         50
        
                                          

State Governments/Union Territories have been informed that any proposal for financial assistance under the Schemes may be forwarded to this Ministry.

SPORTS AND GAMES

For promotion of sports and games in the country there is a provision of Rs. 200 lakhs in the Second Five-Year Plan. During 1956- 57 a number of schemes were initiated. In the field of training, programme for organising coaching camps for imparting training to the coaches drawn from. educational institutions in the country was continued. During 1956-57 coaching camps in basketball, badminton, kabaddi, cricket, football, swimming, volley ball, lawn tennis, table tennis, hockey and athletics were conducted and 271 nominees participated in these camps. In these coaching camps more up-to-date techniques and methods are taught and attention is paid to grace, movement and speed in conducting sports. The scheme is now in its fourth phase.

261

With the help of the coaches trained at the coaching camps organised by this Ministry, further coaching camps have been conducted by the Universities of Gujrat and Nagpur. The Government have helped the organisation of such camps by way of grants to the extent of 50 per cent of actual expenditure.

During 1956-57 grants were paid to the various sports federations to the extent of Rs. 4,82,286 for inviting sports teams from abroad and also for sending teams abroad for international meets. The period under review saw India's participation In the Olympic Games held at, Melbourne in November, 1956 for. which the following financial assistance was given to the Indian Olympic Association:-

Grant-Rs. 2 lakhs

Interest free loan-Rs. 1,10,500

For the improvement of amenities in the field of sports the Government. of India have initiated a scheme for the construction of Stadia and Sportsmen's Guest Houses. The essential condition of the scheme is that the sponsoring authority (State Government or the Sports Federation as the case may be) must make the land available free of cost and contribute 50 per cent of expenditure. So far the Standing Committee of the All-India Council of Sports has recommended grant for the construction of five Guest Houses, one each in the. States of Bihar, Travancore Cochin, West Bengal, Mysore and U.P. and three Sports Stadia in Punjab (Amritsar), Hyderabad and Bihar (Jamshedpur).

For better coordination of sports activities and with the object of putting the conduct of sports on a proper footing the All-India Council of Sports has recommended the appointment of paid Secretaries, to the Federations affiliated to the Council/States Councils of Sports. The Government of India have accepted this proposal and paid secretaries have been appointed for the Badminton Association of India, Basketball Federation of India, Indian Hockey Federation, U.P. Council of Sports and Kerala Council of Sports. Steps are being taken to appoint paid secretaries for the Gymnastic Federation of India and the Hyderabad Sports Board.

NATIONAL DISCIPLINE SCHEME

The National Discipline Scheme was introduced- in July, 1954 by, the Ministry of Rehabilitation under the direct guidance and supervision of its Deputy Minister, Gen. J. K. Bhonsle. The Scheme aimed at imparting training in discipline to children in educational institutions by infusing in them the ideals of citizenship, team- spirit, self-reliance and self-confidence. More than seventy thousand children are receiving training under the scheme in schools for displaced children in Delhi, Punjab, West Bengal, Bombay, Uttar Pradesh, and Kashmir . The Physical Training (mass drill etc.) is supplemented by lectures in the classroom when children are informed about the country's glorious past, its cultural heritage and the deeds of valour and chivalry of out ancestors. This process of training both in the field and in the classroom is intended to wake the child a good citizen.

It has been decided that the scheme which is now in force only in schools for displaced children should be implemented on an expanded scale in other schools in three selected regions.

262

A budget provision of Rs. 7 lakhs has been made for this purpose for the current year. Since the existing schemes in displaced children's schools win ,also be taken over by the Ministry of Education from the Ministry of Rehabilitation, the unspent balance (about 11 to 12 lakhs) of the latter Ministry's budget provision for 1957-58 for this purpose will also be transferred to the Ministry of Education. For the present this Ministry proposes to initiate the Scheme on an intensive scale in three regions corresponding to the States of Punjab, West Bengal and Bombay. In each of the regions, the scheme is proposed to be introduced in one hundred schools with a total student-population of 1,20,000. A total of 3,60,000 students would thus be covered by this Scheme in all the three regions. The details in this connection are being worked out.

It is intended to put the Scheme into execution this year itself. Shri J. K. Bhonsle has been appointed as adviser on the National Discipline Scheme in this Ministry for this purpose.

SCOUTING AND GUIDING

The Bharat Scouts and Guides had a fruitful year in the sense that it participated in several national and international activities and finalised a detailed programme for its general expansion. There is a provsion of Rs. 1 crore in the Second Plan for assistance to this organization.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides sent a contingent of 16 guides to the Philippines to participate in the Jamboree held there. The Government of India sanctioned a grant of Rs. 9,113 to meet 50 per cent of the cost of transport the contingent.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides held the 2nd All-India Scouts and Guides, Jamboree at Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Government of India sanctioned a grant of Rs. 25,000 for meeting part of the expenses ]incurred in this connection.

The organisation of the Bharat Scouts and Guides in Delhi State are constructing a building called Bajpai Hall to accommodate delegates and to hold rallies etc. The Government of India have agreed to share 2/3 of the approved expenditure to be incurred on the construction of this Hall and have sanctioned an advance grant-in-aid of Rs. 50,000.

The Bharat Scouts and Guides have sent a contingent of 51 scouts and guides to London to participate in the Centenary World Camps for Girl Guides, Jubilee Scout Jamborees and International World Camps held at London, and Government of India have agreed to give financial assistance to meet 50 per cent of the cost of transport of this contingent.

State Governments have evinced increasing interest in the Scouting and Guiding movement. In schools it forms one of the curricular activities which is popular with students. The States have also contributed liberally for the contribution and development of this movement.

263