Even Rahul Gandhi couldn't do anything about it

Seven years and Rs 7 crore later there is no trace of a physical education regulator, even the file is missing

Seven years and Rs 7 crore later there is no trace of a physical education regulator, even the file is missing

The money at stake is very slim, considering the institutions involved and the period of time, yet a scam is a scam.

It all started back in the 90s with the Central Advisory Board for Education (CABE) proposing to set up a regulatory board for physical education in the country. The Sports Ministry, however, took it to Parliament only in 2002-03. The Parliament Standing Committee on Human Resource Development under the chairmanship of late SB Chavan approved the creation of a regulatory body for physical education in the country and sanctioned an initial budget of Rs 10 lakh. The corpus was further increased to Rs 93 lakh in 2004.

However, an RTI plea has revealed that despite funds being granted each year continuously, no such council was formed and none of the government departments concerned have any file or information regarding it.

"Few months back I had filed an RTI with the Cabinet Secretariat and Sports Ministry to gather details of the proposed AICPE. But the Cabinet Secretariat replied said that no such file is available with it while the Sports Ministry never replied," said Piyush Jain, secretary, Physical Education Foundation of India, an NGO.

Expressing his dismay at the condition of physical education in the country, Jain said: "The government eagerly

Promises unfulfilled

Last year Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visited the Laxmibai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior- the only national-level college for physical education - had assured the students to look into the matter as to why there is no regulatory body for physical education.

sanctioned a budget of Rs 100 crore for Commonwealth Games but it never gave any second thought about producing world level athletes in the country. While we have a council for all kind of technical education in the country,u00a0 physical education could never find an honourable place."

The Parliament Standing Committee also reacted strongly to the lethargic approach of the concerned ministry in 2005-06. It had asked the government to settle the matter at the earliest yet no action was taken.

"It clearly shows that government neglect towards the important issue of physical education in the country but at the same time it highlights their irresponsible attitude. Within a couple of years the government departments have completely forgotten about any such file in their records," said Jain.