Fitness may add to students’ marks
All work and no play makes Jack an unfit boy. At a time when academic learning and indoor entertainment are increasingly replacing outdoor physical activities, Ajay Maken, the Union minister for Sports and Youth Affairs aims to change the course. He wants to increase the fitness level of students as part of his ministry’s ambitious National Fitness Programme (NFP) along with the Human Resources and Development ministry.
And if all goes well and the NFP is implemented, students who come up to a certain fitness level will have their scores added to their academic record. Marks for fitness, in other words. Time for parents to let their kids go out and play!
This initiative of the ministry has students excited. Divyansh Verma, 19, a student from Kirori Mal College feels that it is a great initatitive. Says Verma, “Sometimes we find it difficult to indulge in sports due to high academic pressure. If fitness programme becomes part of the educational curriculum, it will be great fun. Sports act as stressbusters.”
Fitness programme is not a new concept in India. It was initiated during 1959 through a test battery “National Physical Efficiency Drive” (NPED) for inculcating awareness of physical fitness among the people. The level of physical efficiency was then assessed and graded by awarding “Star system” (i.e. 3 stars, 2 stars etc). However, the programme was disbanded after a few years as it was found to be inappropriate to assess physical fitness.
Shambhavi Shekhar, 22, a University-level basketball player, says that it is time to bring back the system. “Under the current system, only a few students avidly into sports can utilise the sports quota during admissions. However, with such a policy more students would be inclined to take up sports seriously,” she says.
The ministry feels that before a proper sports infrastructure is put in place in the country, it was necessary that a “sports culture” was inculcated among the youngsters.
Students from metros should be motivated to take up physical activity-based sports, feels senior basketball player Shiba Maggon. “Children these days have restricted themselves to networking sites. They want to change our society by commenting on the Facebook,” she rues.
If the lifestyle of youngsters has to be changed, they have to be encouraged to step out, feels Maggon. “And this programme is perfect,” she adds.
According to a source, the government in all probability will set up an expert committee to develop a national level physical fitness programme very soon in consultation with the states.
Comments
sports are valuable
deksha
28 Jul 2012 - 08:02
sports are valuable activities.It gives freshness to mind and capacity to think new,as,games need constant review and planning to win and overcome defaults in a fraction of time while playing.
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