Page 61 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2021-22

OVERVIEW More physical or sporting activity needs to be included in the Over the past five years, the Trusts have established National Institute for the Visually Handicapped started
school curriculum and should be promoted for the holistic state-wide sports development programmes at the as soon as the schools re-opened.
development of children. This will, in turn, feed talent into grassroots level in Jharkhand, Mizoram, Manipur and
Sports is an important catalyst for development. It raises
competitive sports and improve the country’s odds of Odisha, based on the culture and availability of sporting
aspirations, improves physical and mental health, and aids
participation and excellence at the international level. infrastructure in these regions. Programmes were
in the overall development of children. The United Nations
designed to develop Hockey in Jharkhand and
has listed sports as a development tool with a host of
The Trusts strongly believe in sports being a powerful Odisha, Badminton in Mizoram, and Football in Mizoram
benefits ranging from raising the standard of health
accelerator for meaningful development, with a focus on and Manipur.
globally, attracting funding and investment in
young children and youth, especially among the
infrastructure, to spawning new livelihood opportunities in
underprivileged and under-served communities in the The Covid-19 pandemic ground all these sporting
the sporting ecosystem.
rural and tribal regions of the country. This is particularly programmes to a halt over the past two years, though
significant given that historically, these regions have fitness training sessions were conducted online, albeit in a
Unfortunately, in India, sports are still
produced the best athletes in the country. limited manner. During the year under review, with the
considered an extra-curricular activity for
world struggling to get back to normal post-pandemic, the
recreational purposes or competitive
Tata Trusts’ sports strategy is based on the Trusts renewed their e orts to restart the programmes
participation. With a greater focus on
“Sports Development Pyramid,” which and bring them back on track.
academics, the time devoted to physical
aims to lay a strong foundation for
activities is reduced, which drastically a ects not
enjoyable physical education and sports • The Hockey excellence programmes at the Naval Tata
just the physical, but also the mental and social
through in-school and grassroots Hockey Academy in Jharkhand and Odisha are
development of children and youth, resulting in
programmes, before building on these residential programmes and were the least impacted
many lifestyle diseases.
fundamental blocks to identify during the pandemic. They quickly swung back into
talented players and coaches, operation as soon as the government allowed
The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this
and provide competitive resumption of sporting activities. Grassroots-level
situation, with even younger children attending
training opportunities that Hockey, though operational in pockets where Covid
kindergarten and primary schools gaining greater
lead them to various careers in infections were fewer, also quickly reached peak
access to smartphones, even in remote villages
the sporting field, such as players, capacity during the second quarter.
across the country. As a result, these children
o cials, administrators, etc.
are now hooked on to their digital devices,
• Due to a denser population and availability of only
forgoing the usual practice of various
Further, given that partnerships make such programmes indoor courts in Mizoram, it took a longer time to
forms of physical activity and play—a
stronger and more sustainable, the Trusts have regularise operations for Badminton. The competitive
scenario which was mostly
identified local partners with strong outreach training centres, however, commenced operations
prevalent in cities alone.
capabilities, such as local clubs, coaches, during the second quarter.
communities, and state-level sporting
This has reinforced the importance changing the ways in
associations, to work with and to develop • The physical literacy in school programme in
which education is imparted to children, especially with
capacities so that these programmes can remain Uttarakhand recommenced during the third quarter with
regard to the need for more physical and experiential
viable in the long run. Wherever possible, the Train the Trainer workshops being implemented in
learning, along with fostering a physical and emotional
collaborations with state governments have been schools after they re-opened. The training for athletes at
connect. This has already been articulated in the new
sought, so that existing infrastructure can be the Maharana Pratap Sports School, continued in public
Education Policy, which supports the predominant view
used and integrated within the programmes. spaces and within the institute, as and when permitted.
that the time is now ripe to embrace and implement this
Training for the visually impaired studying at the
change whole-heartedly.

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 54