Physical literacy was being implemented in 61,000 schools in the State, thus giving emphasis to fitness in daily life, Special Chief Secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam said here on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the all India inter-institutional badminton tournament sponsored by Airports Authority India at Funtimes Club here, he said fitness was taking a back-seat in the modern era and stressed on the benefits of a healthy body with a healthy mind.
“Similar to embracing digitalisation, computerisation, we should follow physical literacy. We made it compulsory in schools as we are keen on generating more able-bodied youngsters in days to come,” he said.
He said fitness would keep diseases away and thereby would help people spend less money on medicines and hospitalization. “Experts from Canada are helping us in executing the physical literacy programmes in all the schools. Physical literacy is nothing but keeping our body fit by regular exercises,” he explained.
Welcoming the shuttlers representing various public sector units, he said State Bank of India, which was once providing employment for talented sportspersons, was showing lesser interest in the recent times. “I spoke to the top officials recently and they promised to take a look into the issue”.
As many as eight teams - RBI, LIC, BSNL, AAI, Department Atomic Energy, ESIC, Food Corporation of India and Air Force Control Board - are taking part in the team and individual championships.
Leave cancelled
The shuttlers, representing Ordinance Factory Sports Promotion Board, were asked to report to duty owing to tension at China and Kashmir borders. “When they arrived at New Delhi, they got a call to return to their bases. Their leave was cancelled and they were asked to resume their national duty. This is informed to us by the team’s coach Sarkar,” said senior BAI official K. Ch. Punnaiah Chowdary.
APSRTC Managing Director M. Malakondaiah, Advisor of AP Government (Home) Kode Durga Prasad, Vijayawada airport director Giri Madhusudhana Rao and other badminton administrators were present .
