The development of sports is closely associated with economic and social progress of a State. In terms of social progress, active participation in sports improves community health and productivity, reduces medical expenses, imbibes discipline in character and enhances social cohesion. Economically, organising major sporting events helps to develop infrastructure, generate employment and revenue and facilitates economic activity. Kerala is known beyond the nation’s boundaries for its sporting culture. The State has nurtured some of the most eminent sports persons India has produced. Further, Kerala’s talented men and women have donned Indian colours many times, doing the country proud in the international sports arena and symbolising the latent talent among the populace of the State for sports and games. The core responsibility of the Government is to ensure the promotion and development of sports and games in the State, co-ordinate all sports activities of the State and ensure mass participation in sports and games especially rural sports persons to utilise the available talent and potential. In addition to this, providing suitable infrastructure involving agencies like Local Self Governments, educational institutions, voluntary organisations and people’s representatives is also required.
The positive attitude and the passion currently exhibited by the Government in boosting sports activities in the State increases the responsibility of the department necessitating its involvement at regional, district and sub district level trickling down to the grass root level viz. Grama Panchayat. This essentially calls for strengthening the existing administrative machinery of the departments.
Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs
The Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs was established in the year 1986 for the promotion and development of Sports and Games in the State by encouraging sports activities at the grass root level itself thereby ensuring mass participation and national and international laurels for sporting excellence. Based on the recommendation of Kerala State Sports Commission, the Directorate of Sports has set up a Sports Development Fund Trust with the aim of mobilising funds from various sources including private sector in addition to Government funding for development of sports in the State. There are various activities undertaken by the Directorate. Every year, financial assistance is provided to selected institutions/individuals for procurement of sports equipment/conduct of competition and coaching camp. Rajiv Gandhi Sports Medicine Centre functioning under the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs provides scientific and prompt medical assistance and rehabilitation therapy to sports persons. Play for Health programme is implemented in schools for developing sports from the primary school level itself. Swim N Survive is another programme for developing minimum skills needed in case of emergency. The administration of G.V. Raja Sports school is vested with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs. The Sports Engineering Wing is functioning for various infrastructure development schemes throughout the State. In order to lead a healthy life and reduce instance of lifestyle diseases, community sports programme is functioning State wide. Suitable areas are being developed as multi sports play spaces for multi-sports usage including volleyball, basketball, tennis and other minor games using modern synthetic surfaces.
As part of development of sports infrastructure the following facilities are being developed throughout the State.
Kerala State Sports Council
Kerala State Sports Council is a statutory body formed as per Kerala Sports Act 2000 (Act 2 of 2001). Kerala State Sports Council was established in 1954 under Charitable Societies Registration Act and reconstituted in 1974 for promoting sports in Kerala under the name of Kerala Sports Council. The Kerala Sports Council was dissolved and Kerala State Sports Council came into existence and is at present functioning as per Kerala Sports Act 2000 and Kerala Sports Rules 2008. There are 25 centralised sports hostels, 53 college sports hostels and 43 school sports hostels functioning under Kerala State Sports Council. Different training schemes in various disciplines are also being conducted.
Operation Olympia -2024
Operation Olympia 2024 envisages grooming of 250 top and elite potential sports person from 11 sports disciplines across the State and train them with state-of-the-art infrastructure and training facility including services of foreign coaches, exposure in international events etc. The focused disciplines are Sprints, Middle distance jumps events, Women Boxing, Women Wrestling, Shooting, Archery, Canoeing and Kayaking, Rowing, Fencing, Badminton, Cycling and Swimming.
Kayika Kshmatha Mission
Kerala, the first State to achieve 100 per cent literacy, now is on an ambitious endeavour to become the first State in the country to achieve 100 per cent physical literacy and physical fitness through Kayika Kshmatha Mission. As part of phase 1 of the project, overall fitness of the students in the school was assessed. In the assessment it was found that fitness level of most of the students in schools was below desirable fitness level. Hence the phase 2 of the Kayika Kshmatha Mission envisages the improvement of physical fitness level of the students as well as the general public and also creating awareness about physical literacy. For the programme the entire population of the State will be categorised into four, for the ease of implementation and monitoring. They are
This programme will be implemented with the collaboration of various departments viz. Kerala State Sports Council, Department of Education, Department of Local Self Government.
Youth Affairs
Youth represents the hope and future of a country. They have a vital role to play in fostering and strengthening social consciousness against all social evils and lead the country to unity and prosperity. The immense resources of youth, if galvanised, can work as a major force for socio-economic change. Focus on youth is needed to create increasing opportunities for the youth to develop their personality, their functional capacity and also to preserve their legitimate rights, avoiding any possible exploitation.
Kerala State Youth Commission
Kerala State Youth Commission was formed for the purpose of evolving and implementing programs for educating and empowering the youth and to function as a protector of their rights. It is a quasi-judicial institution, which started functioning through ordinance promulgated by government. The Commission intends to undertake various programmes for the 13th Five Year Plan. Empowering the youth and make them aware of their duties and responsibilities for avoiding communalism, alcohols, drugs and cyber crime are the focus areas.
Kerala State Youth Welfare Board
Kerala State Youth Welfare Board is an autonomous body incorporated under the auspice of Government of Kerala in 1985. The main objective of the Board is to co-ordinate youth welfare and development activities. The Board consists of 21 members of whom there are 11 ex-officio members and 10 members are nominated by the Government.
Keralotsavam
Keralotsavam, a unique youth festival, is conducted mainly for the youth who have no proper platform to present their cultural and physical talents. In this festival youth in the age group of 15-35 can participate in cultural, arts and sports competitions in Block, District level to State level. There are some selected cultural items, which are not popular in mainstream cultural scene, included in this festival.
Keralotsavam is now a widely accepted festival for the youth of Kerala. As a result every youth in this State is getting a chance to project him/her self to the fore-front in every sphere of life. Kerala has created a model for the nation by initiating a colourful youth festival “Keralotsavam,” which is conducted with gaiety and fanfare every year.
Yuva Sakthi
Yuva Sakthi is a project initiated by the Kerala Youth Welfare Board for tapping the potential of youth in Kerala. The new project, being implemented in association with Local Self-Governments will institute coordination committees at the Panchayat and municipality level. 100 Village Panchayats and five Municipalities of the District would benefit from the scheme. This project would help strengthen government aided youth activities under various local self- government bodies. The coordination committee comprises 11 members including three subject experts. A youth co-ordinator will also be selected from each of these local self government institutions. Yuva Sakthi will enlist the help of registered youth clubs and associations to bolster up its activities.
Yuva Karma Sena
The main objective of this scheme is to channelise ‘Youth resources for Rural Development’. There are thousands of Rural Youth who are willing to do any service on a voluntary basis. 152 blocks in the State can be chosen for mobilising these invaluable youth resources and the Block Youth co-coordinator will be entrusted the responsibility of each block Youth Community. Besides, 50 dedicated Youth Volunteers will be selected in each block and they will be provided a two-day intensive training on disaster management, first aid, and community work, etc. These volunteers will be provided with a resource kit and an identity card. Thus the service of 7,600 trained youth volunteers can be ensured throughout the State. The service of these volunteers will be a great blessing in time of natural calamities, unexpected accidents, riots, etc.
The Youth Clubs will have to play a vital role in organising various awareness programmes, environmental awareness, social forestry programmes and form Nature Clubs at local levels.
HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme
Several steps have been taken by the Government for the prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS. As the Youth Welfare Board envisages a network of action throughout the State/District Youth Centres, besides forming Youth Clubs at grass root levels, it can function effectively in combating this dreadful disease. The activities will be done in collaboration with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), UNAIDS, State AIDS Cell and other Voluntary Organisations.
Adventure activities
Government of India provides support to youth adventure activities through State Governments. The Kerala State Youth Welfare Board also gives support to the youth adventure training program, which is intended to infuse the spirit of adventure among the youth. It is clearly evident that the youth of Kerala are brim with the spirit of adventure as there are greater number of entries for the bravery awards from Kerala. The third National Adventure Academy has been established at Devikulam, Munnar in Idukki district and the Academy conducts a adventure training programme such as paragliding, mountaineering, and trekking etc.