Chapter 4

The strength of a society is dependent on collective vitality and well being of the people. Sports is an essential requirement for the holistic development of an individual's personality. Sports teaches one the value of team work and fair play, and imparts the capacity to treat success and failure alike. Sports gives the individuals the determination to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.

Review of Ninth Five Year Plan

An outlay of Rs.50 crores was provided in the Ninth Five Year Plan for this sector. Against this, the expenditure is estimated to be Rs.6585 lakhs.

Tenth Plan Outlay and Objectives

The outlay for the Tenth Plan (2002-07) is Rs.146.11 crores. The focus will be on the following areas:

Annual Plan 2002-03

An outlay of Rs.479.89 lakhs was provided for 2002-03 for development of Sports & Youth Services in the State. As against this the expenditure is anticipated to be around Rs.695.57 lakhs

Annual Plan 2003-04

For the year 2003-04 a sum of Rs.543.63 lakhs has been proposed for the following programmes:

The National Service is implemented in Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics and in Higher Secondary Schools in Tamil Nadu. This is a Centrally sponsored scheme shared in the ratio of 7:5. In Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics and Schools 2520 Units are functioning. In as far as Higher Secondary Schools are concerned the NSS is being operated in 1070 schools covering 65,000 students. The total coverage of students under both categories is 2,05,700. A total sum of Rs.369.34 lakhs has been provided for the year 2003-04 out of which Rs.313.77 lakhs is for Universities, Colleges and Polytechnics and Rs.55.57 lakhs for Higher Secondary Schools. Correspondingly, a sum of Rs.627.53 lakhs for Universities and Colleges and Rs.132.32 lakhs for Higher Secondary Schools are shown as 100% share for the NSS scheme.

A. Grants to Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu for the establishment of specialised sports Academy (Outlay Rs.118.69 lakhs)

An amount of Rs.118.69 lakhs has been proposed as grant to Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu for the year 2003-04 for the following activities:

To spot the talented boys and girls at an early age it has been decided to formulate the World beaters Talent Spotting Scheme. Under this scheme every school will be provided with a battery of tests to find the child's potential. A district level inter block competition will also be conducted to bring out the talents.

Apart from the above Plan schemes, the following activities of the SDAT also receive State assistance under Non-Plan.

There are 3 sports schools and 4 Sports Hostel in the State. The Government provides dietary charges and other allowances for the students admitted in Sports Schools / Sports Hostel. The total strength is 710.

A Sports Hostel of Excellence was established at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium during 1994-95, for college-going boys in the disciplines viz. 1. Athletics, 2. Basketball, 3. Boxing, 4. Swimming and 5. Volleyball.
Several National players have been produced by this hostel. The total admissible strength is 50.

To encourage the sports persons in Colleges, a Joint Development Centre for volleyball was started in Scared Heart College, Tiruppathur during 1997--98 as a pilot measure.

The District level Summer Coaching Camps for boys and girls are conducted every year at District Headquarters for students and non-students below the age of 16 in the following disciplines, viz., Athletics, Basketball, Football, Hockey and Volleyball.

During summer, a State level residential Coaching Camp is conducted for 21 days both for boys and girls under 16 who have excelled in Republic Day sports and Bharathiyar Day Sports in the disciplines of Athletics, Basketball, Football, Hockey and Volleyball. It is conducted at different district headquarters by rotation.

Grants are being given to recognised State Sports Associations of Tamil Nadu to organise competitions and to enable the participation of Tamil Nadu teams in the National and South Zone tournaments.

Sports Development Authority of India (SAI) is conducting a National Sports Festival for Women (no age limit) every year in 13 disciplines. Tamil Nadu teams are regularly participating in these festivals.

The SAI is conducting the All India Rural Sports Meet every year in 9 disciplines for boys and girls below 16 years of age. Tamil Nadu fields its teams regularly in these All India Rural Sports Meet.

To commemorate the birthday of the Perarignar Anna every year on 15^th September, Anna Cycle Race is conducted in all the District Headquarters for boys and girls below 16 years of age. A State level Cycle Race is also conducted every November in one of the District by rotation for Winners in the District level competition.

Under the Sports Scholarship Scheme of SDAT outstanding sports persons (minimum eligibility State level Medal Winner) in 14 disciplines are given a one time scholarship of Rs.5,000 and of Rs.6,500/-.

Youth Festivals are conducted every year at District and State levels with a view to promoting meaningful interaction and friendship among the participating youth. The Government of India also conducts a National Youth Festival every year from 12^th to 16^th January at which youth from various States / U.Ts participate in 18 competitive events and the cultural panorama in various other non-competitive events. National Youth awards are also given during this festival.

To promote sports among the Government employees in Chennai City, Sports Meet is conducted every year for both men and women of five different age groups in the following disciplines: Athletics, Volleyball, Ball Badminton, Table Tennis, Throw-ball, Tennis and Shuttle Badminton.

To involve Rural and Urban students and non-students Open Sports Meet is being conducted at Block level, District level and at State level involving both men and women. The competitions / tournaments in the following disciplines are being conducted under this scheme: 1) Athletics, 2) Kabaddi 3) Volleyball 4) Ball Badminton and other games popular in the area.

With a view to identifying young talent in sports and games at the school level, the State Level Catch Them youth Tournaments are conducted every year for boys and girls below 14 years of age, in the following 6 disciplines 1. Athletics, 2. Basketball, 3. Football, 4. Hockey, 5. Swimming and 6 Volleyball.

The RDS / BDS are conducted by the Director of School Education. In order to motivate the School Children, a cash award of Rs.600/- for First Place and Rs.400/- for Second Place were given to the Children for 14 disciplines.

The Government has instituted a 'Chief Minister State Sports Award' of Rs.1.00 lakh each to be awarded to two outstanding sportsmen and two outstanding sportswomen who bring laurels to the State at International level competitions. So far 12 Sports persons who have been awarded with the Chief Minister's award.

There are 3 Sports Schools and 4 sports Hostels functioning under the control of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. Inter-Sports School / Sports Hostel competitions are conducted every year in Athletics, Basketball, Football, Hockey and Volleyball. A team comprising of the best talent drawn from all the Sports Schools and Sports Hostels in each of the disciplines is sponsored to participate in tournaments conducted by various State Sports Associations.

Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs.0.50 lakh for conduct of Sports and purchase of equipments for Women and Child Welfare Centres in 5 Districts in Tamil Nadu.

As weightlifters hailing from Sathuvachari near Vellore have brought many laurels to the State and the country, a Special Development Centre for Weightlifting has been established here. Thirty men (students as well as non-students) are being trained by a qualified coach. Refreshment charges of Rs.10 per day per trainee has been provided from 360 days in a year. Kit allowance of Rs.2,400/- per trainee per year is also provided.

State Games are being organised in 14 disciplines: 1. Athletics, 2.Triathlon, 3. Badminton, 4. Swimming, 5. Tennis, 6. Table Tennis, 7. Weightlifting, 8. Silambam, 9. Basketball, 10. Football, 11. Hockey, 12. Kabaddi, 13. Kho-Kho and 14. Volleyball in which both students and non-students men and women participate in large number, without age restriction. The competitions are conducted at Regional, Inter-Regional and State level.

The game of Basketball is popular in Coimbatore. Hence, a centre has been started to coach 25 talented boys under 20 years of age who are selected from the adjoining areas based on their performance and sent to Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore regularly for training. Kit allowance of Rs.3,200/- per year per student, transportation charges for players from their residence and back at the rate of Rs.10/- per day per student and refreshment charges at the rate of Rs.10/- per day per student are provided for 300 days in a year.

As Tirunelveli has produced a large number of national and international hockey players, a Special Development Centre for the promotion of hockey has been set up here to coach 30 players by a qualified coach. Each student is provided a playing kit worth Rs.3,600. Transportation charges from place of residence and back at the rate of Rs.10 per day and refreshment charges of Rs.10 per day per student are provided for 300 days in a year.

In order to develop talent in sports persons in Colleges and to encourage them to achieve laurels at national and international level, the Government has permitted the establishment of Joint Sports Development Centres in Colleges by utilising the available infrastructure facilities in particular colleges. Seven men's Colleges and five Women's Colleges have been selected for the above scheme.

24. Three Coaching Camps: Special Coaching Camps for Catch Them Young - under 14 students

From 1999-2000 onwards, the Government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned Special Coaching Camps for boys and girls under 14 years of age who have been identified as talented sports persons during the Catch Them Young Tournaments conducted annually in 6 disciplines viz., Athletics, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Volleyball and Swimming. A Selection Committee consisting of an Olympian / International Association representative, coaches and officers of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu will select the talented sports persons. A total of 165 boys and girls (15 boys in Football, 15 boys and 15 girls in each of the other 5 disciplines) are being trained under this Special Coaching Camp. The budget allocation for this is Rs.5.00 lakhs. The coaching will be conducted in three phases each of 21 days' duration.

Under this Scheme, 25 Government Schools have been selected for the development of playfields.

The aim of the Government is to create District Sports Complexes consisting of Sports facilities viz., Outdoor Stadiums, Swimming Pools, Indoor Stadiums at District Head quarters with Central assistance in the ratio of 75:25 for Hilly / Tribal area and in the ratio of 50:50 for other areas. Building works for construction of District Sports Complexes / Swimming Pools / Indoor Stadiums have been planned for the year 2003-04.

The Sports Development Authority has planned to encourage private partneship in infrastructure development for sports utilising the advanced training facilities for sports in foreign countries, setting up of sports facilities for non-conventional sports, establishing a hall of Chess and Hall of Fencing, introduction of Compulsory Physical Fitness and Sports Aptitude Report Card for students of Standard 6^th, 7^th and 8^th in all schools in the State, introduction of grading systems, establishment of a Badminton Academy and a Swimming Academy, Sports mapping of the State, development of Fitness Centres in the State.

The above grants of Rs.118.69 lakhs also include a sum of Rs.5.00 lakhs sanctioned for conduct of Inter School competition and another Rs.2.50 lakhs sanctioned for establishing specialised sports Academy at Madurai. For these two new schemes, details have been furnished under "New Schemes" below.

Further, assistance is made available to Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu towards the establishment of Sports Project Development Area Centre, a centrally sponsored scheme shared between the Centre and the State. Pending finalisation of the scheme by the Government of India, a token outlay is provided in the Budget.

Towards construction of District sports stadia at Thiruvannamalai and at Theni a sum of Rs.5.60 lakhs has been shown as State's share. The details are shown under new schemes.

This scheme will encourage competition spirit among the students and explore their talents. Identified talents may be imparted through scientific coaching to enable them to participate in higher level competition. The Inter school competition in Gymnastics, Fencing, Boxing and squash which are Olympic disciplines will be encouraged at a cost of Rs.5.00 lakhs during 2003-04. The expenditure connected with travel, boarding and lodging, equipment and refreshment charges will be met from this fund.

The Tamil Nadu has been doing well in Arthletics, Volleyball, Basketball, Weightlifting, Chess etc. at National and International level. The talent in younger age groups need to be identified and groomed by starting Sports Academiess and training to the youth win medals even at International level. The Sports Academy will provide sports persons advanced training, nourishments, kit and conveyance for their training. A sum of Rs.2.50 lakhs has been provided for establishment of a specialised Sports Academy at Madurai.

It is proposed to promote Table tennis among the under privileged sections of Society in Chennai by partnership with an institution.

The policy of the Government is to establish District Sports Complex with outdoor and indoor stadium and a Swimming pool. It is proposed to construct District Sports Complex at Thiruvannamalai District with facilities for an outdoor play fields, hall for multi-Gym during 2003-04. This will help to train sports persons for competitive activities and also for the conduct of the sports and games meet in various levels. The funding pattern of the scheme will be 50% Government of India, 25% State and 25% by the Stadium Committee. Thus, the total cost of Rs.56 lakhs will be shared as Rs.28 lakhs by Government of India, State Rs.14 lakhs and Stadium Committee Rs.14 lakhs. A sum of Rs.5.60 lakhs has been proposed for 2003-04 being 40% of the ultimate cost of Rs.14 lakhs.

It is proposed to construct District Sports Complex at Theni District with facilities for an outdoor play fields, hall for multipurpose during 2003-04. This will help to train sports persons for competitive activities and also for the conduct of sports and games meet at various levels. A sum of Rs.5.60 lakhs has been provided for 2003-04 being 40% of the ultimate cost of Rs.14 lakhs.

Outlay for the above two schemes amounting to Rs.5.60 lakhs alone is provided for payment to Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu for construction of sports stadia at Thiruvannamalai and Theni in the plan Budget Link.

(5) Relaying of synthetic Hockey Turf at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai (Outlay Rs.50.00 lakhs)

The present synthetic Hockey turf at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai was laid during VII SAF Games during 1995. This is the only Turf available in Tamil Nadu. This Turf is being used by Hockey players for regular practice through the years. This is also being used by Schools, Colleges, Universities, Public and Private Sector companies etc., for conducting their Hockey tournaments. The relaying of this synthetic Hockey Turf is also essential as Dr. J. Jayalalitha Gold Cup International invitation Hockey Tournament is to he held during 2003-04 and the 8^th Men's Junior World Cup at Chennai in 2005. The relaying of the Synthetic Hockey Turf is to be taken up at a cost of Rs.200 lakhs for which the Government of India has agreed to fund to the extent of 50% or Rs.100 lakhs, whichever is less. Hence a sum of Rs.50.00 lakhs is proposed as State's share for the year 2003-04. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme scheme a sum of Rs.100.00 lakhs is shown as full cost.

Apart from this, Provision of Beach Volleyball facility, establishment of “Hall of Weight lifting”, Construction of high altitude Centre at Ooty, conduct of Regional level competitions in Athletics and Swimming will be taken up during 2003-04.

Thus a total sum of Rs.543.63 lakhs has been provided for sports and youth services for the year 2003-04. The details are as follows:

Sl.No.	Details of Scheme / programme	Outlay for 2003-04
1.	Youth Welfare programme for students	369.34
2.	Sports and Games	174.29
	Total Sports and Youth Services	543.63