News

Volume 7 Issue 1 - January 01, 2010

Sports scheme for disabled people to be implemented only in ‘special schools’!

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: The Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports has announced a scheme to promote participative sports among disabled people. The scheme will provide grants for coaching, procuring sports equipments and organizing district, state and national level competitions for disabled sportspersons. This is India’s first ever sports policy for people with disabilities.

However what is surprising is that the scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis for a 5 year period but only in special schools and schools which cater to disabled children!! This goes against the Government’s own policy for inclusiveness.

The scheme will support 250 students in 5 schools in each State and Union Territory. The schools will be selected for grants through open invitations and after recommendation from a Committee to be headed by Joint Secretary, Sports.

India’s first policy on sports for disabled people comes close on the heels of the fiasco at the I.W.A.S. World Games in Bengaluru organised by the Paralympics Committee of India and amid allegations of corruption. Such a myopic and discriminatory implementation would further enrage the disability sector.

Read the full text of the Sports scheme (PDF - 117 KB)