 PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND YOUTH
 WELFARE

Labour and Social Service Scheme

As a result of the recent appraisal of Educational Development Programmes under the Second Five-Year Plan, a sum of Rs. 280 lakhs now exists as the total Plan provision for the implementation of the scheme of Labour and Social Service. Out of this, a sum of Rs. 56.40 lakhs constitutes the allocation for the current financial year for expenditure on the scheme. The Scheme falls into two parts, viz., Labour and Social Service Camps for students and other youths, and Campus Work Projects in universities and educational institutions. 75 per cent of the allotment is earmarked for the former scheme and 25 per cent for the latter. Details of the two schemes are as given below.

Labour and Social Service Camps.-The purpose of the camps is to inculcate a sense of the dignity of manual labour among the students and other youths and to bring them into contact with the villages, where they can do some social service on a voluntary basis. The Camps are held in rural areas and the campers engage in manual labour which is of service to the community. Each camper is expected to put in about four hours of shramdan daily and the work undertaken by them is of the following nature :-

Boy Campers

Construction of roads, digging of soak pits, manure pits, digging of canals, water reservoirs, drainages and village wells, building of bounds, widening of lanes in villages, afforestation. soil conservation, construction and improvement of village and school playgrounds.

Girl Campers

Environmental social service including personal hygiene, sanitation, home nursing, child care, care of the sick, sewing and tailoring etc.

During the current financial year universities, State Govern- ments, the National Cadet Corps of the Ministry of Defence and voluntary organisations, of which the most important are the Bharat Sevak Samaj and the Bharat Scouts and Guides, organised a large number of camps of different types all over the country. During the period between 1st April, and 31st December, 1958 a sum of Rs. 32.78 lakhs was sanctioned for holding 1,762 camps with a total strength of 1,38,987 campers.

The Government of India subsidise youth camps on the following basis :

For food and incidental expenses at the rate of Rs. 1:75 nP. per head per day;

For transport charges third class railway fare at students' concession rate or actual bus fare.

Grants were also given for the holding of Organisers' Training Camps to ensure the supply of trained and experienced personnel or the conduct of Labour and Social Service Camps.

An ad hoc grant of Rs. 10,000 was also sanctioned to the Indian 'Organising Committee for Training Projects in Work Camp Methods and Techniques in South East Asia, New Delhi, for organising a training project at Mahial, near Ahmedabad from 1st December to 23rd December, 1958. Representatives from all parts of India and also from some of the countries of South East Asia participated in this training project.

For 1959-60, a budget provision of Rs. 53 lakhs has been proposed for the Labour and Social Service Scheme out of which a sum of Rs. 33 lakhs has been earmarked for Labour and Social Service Camps.

Campus Work Projects in Universities and Educational Institu- tions.-The purpose of this scheme is to provide for much needed amenities in universities and other educational institutions,, e.g., recreation halls-cum-auditoria, swimming pools (25 metres), gymnasia, open-air theatres, pavilions, small stadia for spectators around the sports arena and 400 metres cinder tracks. One of the conditions for making the grant is that the staff and students of the educational institutions applying for grants under this scheme should render skilled and/or unskilled labour on the project. The institutions concerned have also to bear 25 per cent of the actual expenditure on the project or more, if necessary, excluding the cost of voluntary labour provided by the students and the staff.

The Scheme has proved very popular. Grants under the scheme are now sanctioned in three instalments which are paid according to the progress in the execution of each sanctioned work. Against the sum of Rs. 14.1 lakhs earmarked for this purpose during the current financial year, an amount of Rs. 14.79 lakhs was sanctioned up to 31st December, 1958 for grant to 17 universities, 13 State Governments and one Union Territory Administration for the construction of 79 recreation halls-cum-auditoria, 14 stadia, nine gymnasia, nine swimming pools, seven open-air theatres, seven pavilions and two cinder tracks. The grant sanctioned includes Rs. 3.83 lakhs for financing the second and third instalments of 31 projects sanctioned during 1957-58.

Physical Education

Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior.-The Lakshmibai College of Physical Education that was established as the national college of Physical education at Gwalior has entered into its second year of existence. A campus extending over an area of 150 acres was acquired for the College. The preliminary plans and estimates of the College buildings have since been prepared and the construction of the building is expected to be taken up shortly. The original provision of Rs. 70 lakhs earmarked for the College during. the Second Five-Year Plan period has now been reduced to Rs. 50 lakhs as a result of the recent appraisal of the Educational Development Programme.

Although the College, is planned to be developed as a coeduca- tional institution, admission has been restricted for the present to men students only, because this residential institution has at present no facilities for accommodation of girl students for want of adequate buildings.

The total strength of the College at present stands at 45 students. When fully developed the annual intake of the College is expected to be 100.

The Three-Year Degree Course syllabus offered by the College covers a very wide field of Physical education. The curriculum. also provides facilities for training in the indigenous physical culture activities as well as yogic exercises. It is expected that at the peak of its development, the College will become a focal centre for advanced studies and research in Physical education.

During the period between 1st April and 31st December, 1958 a sum of Rs. 3.3 lakhs has been sanctioned in favour of the Board of Governors of the College to meet expenditure on the College.

A sum of Rs. 14.5 lakhs has been included in the budget for 1959- 60 for the College out of which, a sum of Rs. 10 lakhs is proposed to be utilised for the construction of the College buildings.

Promotion of Physical Education and Recreation under the Second Five-Year Plan.-On the basis of the recommendations of the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation. a number of schemes for Physical education and recreation were included in the Educational Development Programme under the Second Five-Year Plan. The original total provision of Rs. 40 lakhs has since been reduced to Rs. 25 lakhs.

Considerable progress towards implementation of these schemes was made during the period under report. The following account gives an indication of the important developments in this regard.

Strengthening of Institutions and Colleges of Physical Educa- tion. Three Visiting Committees were constituted for the inspection of the Physical education Training institutions in the north-western, north-eastern and southern regions, and for the assessment of their requirements. The Visiting Committee for the north-western region has since completed its on-the-spot assessment of the needs of the Physical education Training institutions in the area and its recommendations are under implementation. The other two Committees are expected to commence their work early in 1959.

Popularisation of the Norms of Physical Efficiency Tests.-To arouse in the youth an enthusiasm for physical fitness the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation had recommended introduction of Graded National Physical Efficiency Tests on an all- India basis. "Three-Star", "Two-Star" and "One-Star" badges will be awarded to the successful competitors in accordance with the efficiency attained by them. In pursuance of this recommendation of the Board "items" of the tests as well-as the "levels of performance" under each of them have since been Worked out. Levels of performance under each test have been prescribed for four groups as follows :

(i) Juniors-women below 18 years;

(ii) Seniors-women of 18 years and above;

(iii) Juniors-men below 18 years;

(iv) Seniors-men of 18 years and above.

An illustrated pamphlet on the tests is now under preparation. When it is printed it is proposed to launch a National Physical Efficiency Drive on the basis, of these tests through the State Governments, universities, educational institutions, sports organisa- tions etc.

Conducting Seminars on Physical Education for Experts in Physical Education and Recreation.-Two all-India seminars under this Scheme were organised,-one for the principals of Physical education Training institutions at Madras, in February-March, 1958, and the other for the State inspectors and university directors of Physical education at Mahabaleshwar, Bombay in May, 1958. The National Plan of Physical Education and Recreation formed the principal theme of discussion at the two seminars. The reports of both the seminars have since been received by the Government.

In addition to the above two seminars it is also proposed to organise two more seminars during 1958-59,-one for the experts indigenous activities, and the other for workers in recreational activities.

Implementation of the Syllabuses of Physical Education for Boys and Girls from Primary to Higher Secondary Stage.-The Government of India propose to bring out detailed handbooks to explain and illustrate the activities prescribed in the two syllabuses. The task of preparing these handbooks has been entrusted to the Principal of the Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior.

Financial Assistance to Vyayamshalas and Akharas.-In view of the valuable contribution made by the indigenous physical cultural institutions in the promotion of Physical education, the scheme provides for payment of grants up to 50 per cent on the purchase of equipment and library books to indigenous institutions like vyayamshalas and akharas subject to the condition that the insti- tutions and/or the State Governments concerned contribute matching funds for the Central grant received by them.

Research in Physical Education, Award of Scholarships for Higher Studies in Physical Education and Award of Visiting Fellowships.- Implementation of these schemes have also been taken up and details are being worked out.

Committee on the Preparation of Popular Literature on Physical Education, Sports and Recreation.-The Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation set up a committee to make detailed proposals for the preparation of popular literature on Physical education, sports and recreation. The recommendations of the Committee are under consideration and implementation.

Committee on Research.-The Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation has also set up a Committee of its own to coordinate all research projects and to make recommendations for the implementation of the research projects as well as for the payment of financial assistance by the Government of India.

Committee on the Coordination of various Schemes of Physical Education.-On the recommendation of the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education and Recreation the Government of India have decided to set up an independent committee to coordinate the various schemes and examine programmes which relate to Physical education, recreation, sports and youth welfare. The Committee will also examine the question of having an integrated policy for different schemes for character building, e.g., Scouting, A.C.C., National Discipline Scheme etc.

For the promotion of Physical education and recreation under the above mentioned schemes grants amounting to Rs. 2.50 lakhs were sanctioned during 1958.

For 1959-60 a sum of Rs. 7.50 lakhs has been earmarked for the implementation of the schemes in question.

Bharat Scouts and Guides.-For the promotion of Scouts and Guides movement in the country, the Government of India sanctioned grants amounting to Rs. 2,18,096 during January to December, 1958. This figure includes the first instalment of a grant of Rs. 60,000 given to the National Headquarters of the Bharat Scouts and Guides towards Government's contribution for the construction of an All-India Scouts and Guides Training Centre at Panchmarhi (M.P.).' The Government of India agreed to pay 75 per cent of the estimated expenditure to be incurred on the Centre or Rs. 3,54,000 whichever is less

The Bharat Scouts and Guides have submitted. proposals for organising Training Camps at various levels to spread Scouts movement in rural areas. The scheme has been agreed to in principle and the question of giving financial assistance is under examination.

National Discipline Scheme

In order to bring the younger generation under a code of dis- cipline and to infuse in them the ideals of good citizenship and comradeships, a scheme for the physical and mental training of displaced children was introduced in July, 1954 by the Ministry of Rehabilitation. Beginning with a handful of children of widows and orphans in the Kasturba Niketan at New Delhi, the scheme has been extended to other institutions.

The scheme lays stress on training the body by exercises and drill and of training the mind through lectures on India's cultural heritage, her traditions, the life of her heroes, and on patriotism and mental discipline. It is inevitable that the inculcation of dis- cipline can only be done through various exercises which resemble those undergone by soldiers. But this semblance is only superficial because the exercises are limited solely to improving the physique, the ability and the general physical bearing of children. The emphasis is on the inculcation of self-reliance, mental discipline and a sense of patriotism. The success of the scheme proved its usefulness and in the process of expansion of such activities sponsored by the Ministry of Rehabilitation for displaced persons to other children, the work was transferred to the Ministry of Education in December, 1957. The number of institutions covered by the scheme at the time of transfer was 178, the number of children under training being 73,000 in the schools and other institutions in the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh,

Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and in and around Delhi. Since then, the scheme has been extended to 210 schools and institutions and about 1,10,000 children have been brought under training. The pace of expansion is likely to be slowed down during the quarter, January to March, 1959, as during this period the annual examinations are generally held in the schools and institutions. During the next year, the target of expansion will be 300 schools and institutions, with about 2,40,000 children under training.

The expenditure on the Scheme up to 31st December, 1958 amounts to Rs. 5.00 lakhs approximately. Against the budget provision of Rs. 9 lakhs for the Scheme for 1958-59, a sum of Rs. 20 lakhs has been provided in the budget for 1959-60.

Committee on Health and Nutrition Education.-Recommendations for the constitution of a sub-committee to 'draft adequate syllabi on Health and Nutrition Education for Primary and Secondary schools and Teachers' Training institutions were made by the Committee on Health Education at its meeting held on 20th December, 1957. A sub-committee of this Committee is now at work drafting the syllabi for different stages in the light of the latest available data.

In the meantime Ministries of Education and Health and the W.H.O. have signed an agreement to conduct a Pilot Health Education Project at New Delhi. The intention is that the different aspects of Health and Nutrition education in school and Teachers' Training colleges should be investigated and suitable Health education programme developed. It is expected that this Project, will assist the work of the Health Education Committee.

Sports

Sports Coaching Camps.-During 1958 on behalf of the All-India Council on Sports, this Ministry held a Coaching Camp in Table Tennis at Lucknow for the benefit of teachers' and Physical instructors drawn from educational institutions all over the country. Another Coaching Camp in Cricket was conducted at Bangalore, in which trainees drawn from educational institutions in Madras and Mysore regions. participated. No further camps were held by this Ministry as it was decided to keep this scheme in abeyance pending review of arrangements for coaching by the reconstituted; All-India Council on Sports.

Grants.-During the period under review, grants aggregating Rs. 9,20,689.19 were sanctioned for the promotion of sports and games in the country. This included a sum of Rs. 2,10,0681 sanctioned for India's participation in the Third Asian Games held at

Tokyo in May, 1958. Grants were also sanctioned for the construction of stadia and guest houses as follows :-

        
                  (i) Hyderabad                           Rs. 1,18,000;
                  
                  (ii) Tellicherry                        Rs.   40,000;
             
                  (iii) Lucknow                           Rs. 1,00,000.

Sports Organisations.-The schemes for the appointment of paid Secretaries for the Sports Federations or, State Sports Councils was continued and paid Secretaries for the following Federations or Councils continued to function during the period under report :-

(1) Indian Hockey Federation

(2) Basketball Federation of India

(3) National Rifle Association of India

(4) Kerala Sports Council

The services of the paid Secretary appointed for the Badminton Association of India were not renewed after the expiry of his one year's term in May, 1958.