Lok Sabha Question No. 221 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Sports Schools
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: HUKUM SINGH, TATHAGATA SATPATHY

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ( DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS )

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

'Sports in Schools'

*221 SHRI HUKUM SINGH: SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY:

## Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  sports/physical education as a compulsory subject  at the school level and also set up sports infrastructure in all the schools in the country, and if so, the details thereof:
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  initiate  measures  for identifying students having potential for sports at the school level itself and if so, the details thereof:
- (c)   whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  scholarships scheme  for  promoting  students  pursuing  sports  and  if  so,  the details  thereof  and  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the Government to promote sports/physical education in all the educational institution in the country.
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  extend  grant  to  each sports  school  for  infrastructure  development  and  other  activities and if so, the details thereof, and

(e) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to promote sports/physical education in all the educational institution in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) to (e ):  A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e)OF THE QUESTION  NO. 221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 /12/2016 REGARDING 'SPORTS  IN  SCHOOLS'  ASKED  BY  SHRI  HUKUM  SINGH  &  SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY.

- (a): Government  recognizes  the  role of sports  and physical education in the holistic development of children and youth in the country.  As part of this policy, the Government has made access to play  fields  and  engagement  of  physical  education  instructor  -  a mandatory requirement for all schools under the Right to Education Act.    Further,  the  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE) places  special  importance  on  co-scholastic  areas  which  includes sports  and  physical  fitness.    Details  of  salient  measures  taken  by CBSE to promote sports in schools are given in the Annexure.  It is expected that State Education Boards would also emulate the CBSE example in due course.
- (b) to (e) A Scheme called 'Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports' is being implemented by this Ministry as a Central Sector Scheme from the current financial year 2016-17. The Scheme provides for holding of annual sports competitions in two age  groups  of      (i)  under  14  and  (ii)  under  17  all  over  India  to encourage  mass  participation  of  both  boys  and  girls  in  Sports  in both urban and rural areas and identification of talented sportspersons through competitions and creation of sports infrastructure facilities.

The  talented  players  identified  at  district  level  competitions onward will be eligible for grant of scholarships for a period of 12 months.  The  amount  of  scholarship  payable  at  each  level  of competitions are given below:-

| S. No.   | Level of competitions        | Amount of Scholarship (In Rs.) per month / per head   |
|----------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| (i)      | District                     | 500/-                                                 |
| (ii)     | State / Union Territory (UT) | 1000/-                                                |

| (iii)   | National   | 2000/-   |
|---------|------------|----------|

Each  identified  sporting  talent  will  be  eligible  for  only  one scholarship for the highest level attained by him/her. The disbursal of  scholarships  shall  be  directly  to  the  bank  account  of  the beneficiary athlete. While  it  is  not  feasible  to  cater  to  the  sports  infrastructure requirements of each and every school, Government schools have been made eligible to apply for financial assistance under the Khelo India Scheme for creation of Sports infrastructure, which would be considered subject to feasibility,  viability and availability of funds. Apart from this, Sports Authority of India also adopts  schools having reasonably good sports infrastructure and creditable sports performance. The support includes coaches, sports equipments and nominal scholarship to the children who meet specified norms.

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ANNEXURE TO QUESTION NO. 221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01/12/2016  REGARDING  'SPORTS  SCHOOLS'  ASKED  BY  SHRI HUKUM SINGH & SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY.

Salient  steps  taken  to  promote  sports  in  the  schools  affiliated  to CBSE are as follows :

1. In  classes  VI  -  X  any  two  activities  out  of  the  following  are compulsory:
- a. Sports/Indigenous sports (Kho-Kho etc.)
- b. NCC/NSS
- c. Scouting and Guiding
- d. Swimming
- e. Gymnastics
- f. Yoga
- g. First Aid
- h. Gardening / Shramdaan
2. The Board has advised schools that there should be at least 4045 minutes of Physical Activities or Games period for Classes I-X every day. For Classes XI - XII schools should ensure that all the students  participate  in  Physical  Activity  /  Games  /  Mass  P.T.  / Yoga with maximum health benefits for at least two periods per week (90-120 min / week).
3. The  Board also organizes 'Inter  School  Sports  and  Games Competitions' in as many as 24 disciplines at Cluster, Zone and National level. Over 1.5 lac students participate in it each year.

In order to identify, recognize, nurture and develop the extraordinary  talent  among  the  students  studying  in  class  VIII onwards  in  sports  and  games,  the  Board  provides  Chacha  Nehru Scholarship.

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