Lok Sabha Question No. 1091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Partcipation of Children in Sports
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1091 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th February, 2021

## Partcipation of Children in Sports

## †1091. SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the schools and colleges provide appropriate/adequate opportunities to children who want to make their career in sports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has currently any programme to increase the participation of children and youth in sports;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether adequate facilities are available in the country to impart training to children and youth in sports and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the additional steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure better access of people to sports facilities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) to (b) : As per the National Curriculum Framework, 2005, Health and Physical Education is a Compulsory subject from Class I to X. In this regard, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has brought out material for Class VI, VII and VIII as Teachers Guide and for Class IX Textbooks on Health and Physical Education (HPE). In addition, Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) has introduced a streamlined and well designed Health and Physical Education (HPE) Program to mainstream health and physical education in schools for students of class I - XII. CBSE has made Health and Physical Education compulsory in all classes from I-XII. The Board has directed schools to keep one period of HPE for classes I-XII each day. All students from these classes are compulsorily required to participate in at least two sports activities as per their interest and capability and this has been included in the eligibility criteria to appear in Board Examinations of classes X and XII .

University Grants Commission (UGC) has prepared guidelines for institutional fitness plan. These guidelines encourage higher educational institutions to adopt policies and practices towards fitness and well being of students and staff. The indicative guidelines inter-alia suggest denoting minimum one hour per day on fitness activities. UGC also provided Financial Assistance to eligible colleges under the scheme 'Development of Sports Infrastructure & Equipment' for promotion of sports with an idea to produce enough sports persons to participate in elite sports.

(c) & (d): The Department of School Education and Literacy in co-ordination with Department of Sports, is organising activities on ''Fit India Movement-Fit India School' in schools to inculcate physical activity and sports into daily life of students. For the Fit India Movement, the Government is playing the role of a catalyst so that Fit India become a people's movement. Fit India is a people centric movement to be run on voluntary basis with participation of as many citizens as possible. The main objective of Fit India Movement is to create awareness amongst all the citizens including youth and students of India about fitness and its importance in daily life through sports, yogasan, walking, cycling, dancing or any other physical activity.

(e) & (f) : Department of School Education and Literacy has launched an Integrated Scheme -Samagra Shiksha for School Education. Realizing the need for holistic development of children, under the Samagra Shiksha, Sports and Physical Education component has been introduced for the first time for encouragement of Sports, Physical activities, Yoga, Cocurricular activities etc. A provision has been made for grants for sports equipments in all government schools at the rate of Rs. 5000 for Primary Schools, Rs. 10,000 for upper primary schools and up to Rs. 25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools per annum.

Ministry has issued guidelines to States and UTs to ensure proper utilization of sports grant. These guidelines include an indicative list of age appropriate sports equipments for government schools. States and UTs have been advised to encourage schools to include traditional/regional games of the respective State/Region. One responsible person/Physical Education Teacher (PET)/Teacher in charge in every school is to be given the responsibility to take care of the sports equipments and to maintain their stock position. This department has also advised to all the States/UTs to encourage students to avail the sports facilities available with the Department of Sports in the States/UTs free of cost as per the guidelines issued by Sports Authority of India (SAI).

As per affiliation bye-laws of CBSE, all schools are compulsorily required to possess playground, other sports facilities for students and compulsory recruitment of Physical Education teacher at each level i.e. PRT (Physical Education), TGT (Physical Education) and PGT (Physical Education). The Board also ensures availability of these facilities through physical inspection.

Under Department of Sports, Elite athletes preparing for international competitions are provided with international standard State-of-the-art sports equipment and infrastructure besides services of Indian and foreign coaches and support staff as per specific requirement of the individual/team. SAI Headquarter provides good quality products/items to the Regional Centres across the country for training of players and National Campers. Special emphasis is given to procure best sporting goods/items available in the market as per specifications recommended by International Sports Federations. The sporting goods/items are procured as per the laid down procedure and as per demand received from elite players and National Sports Federations.

Further, under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athletes are provided financial assistance to acquire modern sports equipment as per their choice to promote excellence in sports. Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations, the identified promising athletes/teams are provided preparatory training at the National Coaching Camps, including wholesome nutritious diet, food supplements, equipments, state-of-the-art infrastructure, lodging, travelling facilities, services of reputed Indian and foreign coaches/supporting staff, scientific & medical support, sports kit, etc., besides financial assistance for their training abroad and participation in international competitions in India and abroad.

*****