As many 28 international players, sports and yoga associations, educationists, have come together to make Chandigarh drugs free. They have urged Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore to improve and raise more sports infrastructure to save the generation next from the deadly menace.
Joining hands under the banner of Joshi Foundation, they maintained that Chandigarh, which is the heart of Punjab and Haryana, could only be made drugs free by boosting physical and mental fitness of youth in Chandigarh.
They stressed that there is a dire need to improve existing sports infrastructure of city and raising new to ensure channelization of youth energy into the right direction. For this, better coordination between government departments is also needed to make sports a mandatory part of regular curriculum of the city schools and colleges, the delegation insisted.
Joshi Foundation chairman Vineet Joshi said that these recommendations are based on suggestions given by 32 sports associations and five international sports players at a Round Table Conference on ‘Drug Menace in Chandigarh — Exploring Solutions’ on June 26, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The Foundation suggested boosting of physical and mental fitness of youth in Chandigarh could be done by holding 10 exercises or yoga postures in morning assembly.
“Make it mandatory for all students to opt for at least one sports at the time of admission or promotion. Declare Saturday as a mandatory sports day, hold monthly inter house or intra mural sports competitions, introduce Sports result card on the lines of annual academic report card, hold annual Sports Audit of all educational institutes,” recommended the Foundation.
Besides, it also recommended to hold bi-annual mandatory medical checkup and fitness test, make open gyms in the educational institutes.
Proper implementation of mandatory physical and health education be ensured at CBSE-affiliated schools for Classes I to XII, besides a need to hold social programs to focus on physical education was also felt, it added.
Joshi Foundation recommended that to create awareness regarding ill effects of drug abuse, a booklet should be brought out alerting about drugs’ bad effects.
“Monthly anti-drugs awareness seminars should be held at school level. Mandatory play or program on bad effects of drugs be introduced at the annual function. Inter house poster making, slogan writing, debates on drugs should be held. Chapters should be introduced about the bad effect of drugs in curriculum. Also anti-drugs skit should be held at least once in a month in the school,” read the recommendations.
Besides, to motivate students, motivational or inspirational programs should be held wherein lectures by international players, toppers and alumni could be included. To create awareness about drug addiction symptoms and importance of parenting Bi-Annual Seminars, lectures by experts in campuses itself should be conducted.
Joshi Foundation president Saurabh Joshi added that government should allocate or specify spaces for sports, games, yoga, or exercises in each sector, village and rehabilitation colonies. He demanded that playgrounds of educational institutes should be allowed for sports after 2 pm and full day on holidays.
“Chandigarh Sports Department has excellent sports facilities at 11 places in Chandigarh, and these should be promoted vigorously, at least, in the neighboring sectors. Panjab University has all the facilities, Sports Authority of India coaches are available free,” he added.
The delegation pointed at the lack of coordination between Education and Sports Department, saying that they work more as rivals and less as team.