Sports Grant and Infrastructure in Samagra Shiksha - Secondary Education
Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a focused effort is made to enhance the physical education and sports infrastructure in secondary and senior secondary schools. The initiative recognizes the importance of sports and physical activities in the holistic development of students. Here's an overview of the key components related to sports grant and infrastructure development:
Sports Grant
To support the promotion of sports and physical education, the SSA provides annual sports grants to government schools. These grants are specifically aimed at ensuring that students have access to necessary sports equipment and facilities. The allocation is structured as follows:
Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools: Schools receive an annual grant of up to Rs. 25,000 to purchase sports equipment.
Schools can utilize this grant to procure a variety of sports equipment, catering to both indoor and outdoor activities. This includes items such as badminton sets, carrom boards, volleyballs, footballs, cricket sets, basketballs, table tennis sets, skipping ropes, and other relevant sports gear.
Infrastructure Development
Beyond the provision of sports equipment, the SSA also emphasizes the creation and improvement of sports infrastructure within schools. Key aspects of this infrastructure development include:
Playgrounds: Ensuring that every school has a designated playground where students can engage in various sports activities. The availability of adequate space is crucial for the physical development and well-being of students.
Storage Facilities: Providing proper storage facilities for sports equipment to maintain its quality and durability. This helps in the organized management and safekeeping of sports gear.
Specialized Sports Facilities: Encouraging the establishment of specialized training facilities for specific sports where possible. For example, schools may develop facilities like badminton courts, basketball courts, or other sports-specific infrastructure to support focused training and skill development.
Inclusive Sports Participation
Samagra Shiksha is committed to promoting inclusive participation in sports, ensuring that all students, regardless of gender, physical ability, or socio-economic background, have equal opportunities to engage in sports and physical activities. Efforts in this direction include:
Encouraging Girls' Participation: Special initiatives are undertaken to encourage girls to participate in sports, including the provision of dedicated coaching and the formation of girls' sports teams.
Supporting Students with Disabilities: The scheme includes provisions for the necessary adaptations and support to enable students with disabilities to participate in sports. This may involve providing specialized equipment or the support of trained instructors.
Promoting Traditional Sports: The inclusion of traditional and regional sports in school activities is encouraged, fostering cultural heritage and diversity in sports.
Recent Initiatives
As part of the SSA's commitment to enhancing sports and physical education, a significant investment has been made to equip schools with the necessary sports materials. Recently, 5.97 crore rupees have been allocated for purchasing sports equipment across 2389 schools. This procurement includes a wide range of sports gear such as badminton sets, carrom boards, volleyballs, footballs, cricket sets, and yoga kits, among others.
These efforts under Samagra Shiksha aim to create a vibrant sports culture in schools, promoting physical fitness, teamwork, discipline, and overall well-being among students. The program underscores the importance of sports as a vital component of education, contributing to the all-round development of young learners.
