The dwindling level of physical fitness among students, especially schoolchildren, is a growing concern for authorities as well as parents as it has serious implications on the general health of society. Understanding this, the Peruvayal grama panchayat has envisaged an imaginative family fitness project, titled Kalimuttam, to improve the overall physical fitness of people, especially the young ones.
Neighbourhood groups
The project to be implemented through village neighbourhood groups called Ayalpakka Vedi envisages forming a Kalimuttam, a sporting unit, for every 100 households with a ground or an open space as its centre. Members of these neighbourhood groups, mainly students, will gather at the Kalimuttam during free times for physical exercises and sporting activities with trained persons guiding them. “The panchayat will distribute sports kits to each Kalimuttam besides providing training in physical fitness to selected few from the unit,” said C.M. Sadasivan, Health standing committee chairperson of the panchayat.
He said the project assumed special significance in the wake of a recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Sports through the Education Department. “It had found that more than 80 per cent of the school students had alarmingly poor fitness levels,” said Mr. Sadasivan.
Kalimuttam also aims at improving the health of other members in the family. “Grownups and senior citizens should also make use of the facility,” he said.
The spot identified by the neighbourhood as Kalimuttam for their get-together can be a private space, a school ground or any other public place. “We have already approved as many as 40 such units after inviting applications from the neighbourhoods,” said P.K. Sharafudheen, vice president of the panchayat.
Basic training
The panchayat has appointed a few trained sports/physical fitness instructors on daily wage basis to coordinate the project. These instructors will train at least three selected members, including women from each Kalimuttam. They will later act as trainers for the respective units. “Basic training in different sporting activities and physical fitness will be provided to them,” said Mr. Sharafudheen, who maintained that a fund of Rs.1 lakh had already been kept aside for the project.
The project would be inaugurated by the second week of May. The panchayat planning is to set up at least 100 units of Kalimuttam. “In the first phase, however, we are planning to start 40 units, for which the selection and verification process have been completed,” said Mr. Sharafudheen.
Sporting units to be formed for every 100 households with a ground as its centre.
