The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Lok Sabha today that as per the information provided by Department of School Education & Literacy, 31% of secondary schools do not have play ground. The Government is implementing the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a centrally sponsored Scheme which, inter-alia, recognizes the importance of sports in providing quality secondary education in the country to ensure holistic development of the students. The scheme encourages the States/UTs to focus on sports, cultural activities, activities based on learning, exposure to life skills with respect to health, nutrition etc. The annual school grant of Rs.50,000/- per annum per school provided under the scheme, has provisions among other components, for sports equipments and uniforms.

In the written reply he said, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education under Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, has been enacted, making elementary education a Fundamental Right, which, inter-alia, provides for

(i) Access to a play ground for each school;

(ii) A part time instructor for physical education in upper primary school;

(iii) Supply of play material, games and sports equipment, as per requirement of the schools.

Further, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it mandatory for all schools affiliated to it to provide one compulsory period for sports upto 10th class and two periods in a week for 11th and 12th classes.

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