MDMK seeks playgrounds in all Government schools in Coimbatore

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) cadre took out a bicycle rally in the district on Sunday seeking playgrounds in all Government, aided and Panchayat Union schools.

The rally commenced near the Government Middle School at K.G. Chavadi and proceeded across the Madukkarai Union through Ettimadai, Kaliapuram, Thirumalayampalayam, Palathurai and Madukkarai Market.

Throughout the rally, the party cadre distributed volleyballs, footballs, tennekoit rings and cricket bats to school students. They also played volleyball at some locations.

In a statement issued here, the party’s Youth Wing secretary V. Eswaran said that sports were vital for holistic development of children. The Government school students must have at least an hour of sports every day.

But many Government schools lacked the playgrounds, which resulted in students confining themselves to games in mobile phones and computers. Nearly 22,000 Government schools of the total 35,000 in Tamil Nadu lacked any kind of sports equipment.

However, Haryana Government had enacted a ‘Right to Play’ Act, which mandated that all residents of the State must have access to sports facilities. The law also made it mandatory for schoolchildren to undergo a certain amount of physical activity.

Private buildings that had been constructed by encroaching upon the playgrounds of Government schools must be demolished immediately. Physical Trainers must be appointed in all Government schools and all students must be made to take up at least one sport. In case of schools not having adequate space, the local body’s land should be given to them, Mr. Eswaran said.