Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Aiming at total fitness of students

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The project for achieving total physical fitness among pupils, to be launched by President Pratibha Patil here on Thursday, targets freeing of the young generation from lifestyle diseases.

Minister for Law, Sports and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar told the media that each student would be evaluated for physical fitness, graded and remedial action taken to correct low grades. A scientific methodology would be used for this purpose under medical supervision. Tests would include 1,600-metre sprint, sit-ups, sit and reach, pull-ups and calculation of body mass index.

The Minister said the departments of sports, education, health, local self-government and finance would jointly implement the project. Of the project cost exceeding Rs. 3.3 crore, Rs. 2.89 crore would be disbursed to the local self-governments. Each panchayat would get Rs. 25,000 and city corporations and municipalities together would get a total of Rs. 39 lakh. The State Sports Council would spend Rs. 40 lakh on acquiring learning aids and software.

Mr. Vijaykumar said the project would cover all schools, including Central and unaided ones. Nearly 40-lakh students, aged nine to 19, from schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education and others would be covered in the first phase.

The objectives of the programme would include involvement of all pupils in physical activities, correction of weaknesses and creation of awareness among pupils and their parents on maintenance of good health. It would be possible to reduce obesity among students, strengthen muscles and improve litheness. The pupils would be freed from bad habits, such as drinking, if any. There would also be improvement in mental outlook and agility. Besides, the programme would help teachers and parents in identifying future sportsmen.

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