Central grant gives a fillip to sports in govt institutions

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 8

The annual sports grant being received by the cash-strapped government schools in J&K under Samagra Shiksha programme is not only helping these institutes to purchase the equipment but the participation of students has also resulted in increased competitions at different levels.

“Even though the grant is not enough, but it certainly has improved the situation in government schools. Schools are now purchasing sports equipment for holding competitions on their respective premises. A majority of the students in the state-run schools were earlier deprived of participation in the competitions,” said an official in the Department of Youth Services and Sports.

“Sport-specific equipment is being selected based on the availability of infrastructure in the school, including availability of playground etc. Every government school is purchasing sportz equipment depending upon the grant it is receiving under the Samagra Shiksha programme.”

A primary school receives a grant of Rs 5,000 whereas Rs 10,000 is fixed for upper primary schools and up to Rs 25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools for meeting the expenses for procuring sports equipment for indoor and outdoor games.

“At present, there is strength of over 500 students of government schools in every district/state-level competition organised by the Sports Department. Earlier, the strength of participants was between 150 and 250,” the official added.

Sources said the Central ministry had also asked the authorities in J&K to ensure the availability of playgrounds in government schools for the effective utilisation of the sports grant under the flagship scheme. Around 17,112 schools in J&K are still without playgrounds, including 5,000 in Jammu division.”

The scheme

In December 2018, the Union HRD Ministry for the first time had made a provision of grant for sports equipment by government schools across the country. It also provides annual recurring composite grant for all government schools for the replacement of non-functional equipment and for incurring other costs such as consumables for play materials, laboratories, electricity charges, internet, water and teaching aides, etc.