Sport - Sports : General

Clinical approach sought

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The round table session held here on Monday in connection with the Kerala Sports Day celebrations concluded with a call to have a clinical approach for the implementation of the various schemes in the sports sector.

Experts who took part in the discussions focussed on the Total Physical Fitness Programme and integration of sports into the educational curriculum were almost unanimous that sufficient safeguards were taken by the Government and the Kerala State Sports Council so as to ensure success of these ambitious projects. The inability of the Government in appointing sufficient physical education teachers in schools and the higher secondary sector over the years were highlighted by almost all of the speakers.

This, they said, could lead to the failure of the schemes if corrective measures were not taken immediately. Likewise, the Government should also take measures to ensure that playgrounds in schools were not used for any other purpose. Nowadays, playgrounds were being converted to classrooms and other facilities.

There should be also a uniform approach in recognising physical education courses. A constant enrichment programme for physical education teachers was also required for the successful implementation of both the schemes.

Inaugurating the session, the Sports Minister, M. Vijayakumar, assured that the Government would do all within its reach to build up basic sports infrastructure in the State. The KSSC president, T.P. Dasan presided and the secretary, G. Kishore presented the approach paper for both the schemes.

Prominent among those who spoke included the former internationals George Thomas and Mercy Kuttan, the former SNIPES Board member, K.R. Krishnan Nair, the former BAI vice-president, R. Ramakrishnan Nair, the KSSC vice-president K. Thankappan and the noted athletic coach, Raju Paul.

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