India with population of 130 crores has been unable to generate sufficient sporting talent and it really pinches. This has led to taking the decision on utilising the sporting talent within the Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) as coaches for training the tribal children in sports said ITBP Commandant Surinder Khatri, presently commanding the ITBP's 41st battalion in restive Kondagaon district of Bastar in Chhattisgarh.
He was given special prize for promoting sports in insurgency-hit areas by Chief Minister Raman Singh during the State Sports Award decoration ceremony held at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium in the Medical College premises here on Thursday. Khatri said that the efforts are paying off and the days are not far when Kondagaon district would be known for its sporting talent.
Now, 10 players in archery and seven in Judo have made their mark at national level while girls hockey and football team are now ready to kick start to make their mark, he said.
He said the slogan is ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ instead it should be ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Beti Khelao’. Girls should be brought in forefront of sports, Khatri said while commenting on different sports where girls have excelled.
During the interaction regarding the works on ground, he said that in Kondagaon at present, around 100 children are being trained out of which 30 have been brought to participate in tournaments out of which 10 have reached the nationals.
Similarly in Judo, out of 100, 30 are ready for events out of which 7 have been selected for national events. In Mardapal camp, 30 girls are being trained in hockey while 100 are being trained for karate and 30 players for football (Girls). Similarly, at Batpal camp around 20 girls are being trained in cricket, Khatri said.
He said that all these are being run under ‘Winning Hearts and Minds’ (WHaM) which brings security personnel close to people while coaching equipment are brought under Civic Action Budget.
He further said that ITBP has adopted a school in Hadeli village where two B.Ed qualified jawans teach as being interior area teachers were not used to arrive on time. It had 8 to 10 students but now it has reached around 80 children.
Notebooks and stationery items are given to children along with providing them medical treatment for basic diseases by the paramedics of ITBP. Even during the search and other operations, the villagers are provided with basic medical treatment, when required, Khatri said.
He wished that in Naxal affected areas if the ashram schools are established near the camps, then the personnel can intervene and take good care of children. They can develop these as sports nurseries and ensure basic training at grass roots level. Or Sports hostels can be opened which will also open new avenues as these tribal children are a talented lot, he said.