Page 59 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2022-23

Sports are a crucial development accelerator. It raises physical education and activities and fostering emotional
aspirations, enhances physical and mental health, and wellbeing. This has already been articulated in the New
promotes children's physio-social growth. The United Education Policy 2020, which supports the general
Nations has identified sports as a tool for development consensus that the time has come to accept and fully
with a variety of advantages, including raising the level of implement this transformation.
health and education around the world, attracting funding
and investment in infrastructure, fostering economic The Trusts believe that sports can be a powerful catalyst
growth, and generating new job opportunities within the for meaningful development, with an emphasis on early
sporting ecosystem. Sports can also help level the playing childhood and youth, particularly in disadvantaged and
field in terms of gender equality and human rights. underserved populations in the country’s rural and tribal
regions. This is especially relevant, given that these regions
have historically produced some of the best athletes in
the country.

The ‘Sports Development Pyramid,’ which forms the
basis of Tata Trusts' sports strategy, aims to create a
solid foundation for enjoyable physical education and
sports through in-school and grassroots programmes.
These activities are then used as fundamental blocks to
identify talented players and coaches, and provide
competitive training opportunities that lead to various
careers in the sporting field, such as players, o cials,
administrators, and so on.

The Trusts have also identified regional partners with
Unfortunately, playing sports for enjoyment
strong outreach capabilities, such as regional clubs,
or competition is still seen as an extracurricular activity in
coaches, communities, and state-level sports associations,
India, with a greater emphasis placed on academics. This
to work with and develop capacities so that these
negatively a ects children's and adolescents' physical, programmes are sustainable over the long term.
mental, and social development and increases the risk of Collaborations with state governments have been sought
certain lifestyle diseases. whenever possible so that programmes can utilise and
integrate existing infrastructure.
Today, children in kindergarten and primary schools in
cities as well as far-flung villages across the country, are
more likely to have access to smartphones as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic. These children are now addicted
25
10
to their digital devices and are reluctant to engage in States Districts
di erent types of physical activity and play.

Given this scenario, there is an urgency to modify the ways
in which children are educated, particularly through active 39,757 5,688 167
and experiential learning, as well as by encouraging Childern Coaches trained Schools
Coverage upto March 2023

ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23 52