The government is contemplating to launch a scheme called “Sarva Krida Abhiyan” on the lines of “Sarva Siksha Abhiyan” to promote sports among children of different age groups.
An expert group headed by member Planning Commission and former Pune University vice-chancellor Narendra Jadhav has also suggested creation of large-scale sporting facilities in the country and that the government need to accord it infrastructure status.
Arguing in favour of much-needed quality sports facilities all across the country, the expert group’s note, a copy of which is in possession of this newspaper, also recommended giving tax holidays to private entities, who invest in building sports complexes, and also providing long-term capital debt to such investors.
Highlighting the urgent need to give “holistic view” on building sports infrastructure in the country, the note observed: “In China about 90 per cent of the children are covered under physical fitness programme, which has been missing in our country. Since games, health and education are inter-related, physical education should be given due consideration by including it in the school curriculum at all levels.”
For the purpose it has been suggested that the government could work out a scheme on the lines of “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan” for physical training and sports and it may be called “Sarva Krida Abhiyan”. The note further mentioned: “Sarva Krida Abhiyan will call for effective role of kreedashree and development of sports infrastructure.”
To manage the resources for the scheme properly, the expert group has suggested to the government the need for considering “Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM) funding for sports infrastructure and provisioning of viability gap funding”.
The expert group’s note also highlighted the mismatch between budget provisions and targets set for the ongoing 11th plan (2007-12).
“Lack of adequate funding under the plan scheme was the main bottleneck for not achieving the targets during the plan period,” it lamented.