Need of Sports For Everyone - Sports is a Human Right

Sports and physical education play an important role in human resource development. Games and other outdoor activities, properly planned and executed, promote social harmony, discipline and increased productivity. These activities develop in students right attitudes and values and help them grow into balanced, integrated and healthy citizens. Participation in physical activities and sports is a fundamental right of every citizen. Physical education and sports are essential elements of educational processes which promote among the participants health, physical fitness and quality of life 

Socio-economic factors play a vital role in an individual’s performance in sports. The socio- economic status make-up of an individual plays an important role in their achievements in every field of life. Socio-economic status also Influence on habitual physical activity 

Socio-economic status is an individual’s or group’s position within a hierarchical social structure. Socioeconomic status depends on a combination of variables, including occupation, education, income, wealth and place of residence. 

Socio-economic status of an individual may influence his opportunity, his desire to excel, his choice of activity and his success. The home environment often influences his motivation to succeed in sports and the degree to which success in this endeavour leads to inner satisfaction. 

Low socio economic groups suffer a lot especially in India in sports. The main barriers affecting participations are 

·      Lack of time due to part time work

·      Affording quality sports training

·      Cultural match

·      Procuring best equipments and

·      Lack of access to proper sports facilities

Players who belong from Low Socio background achieving laurels for the nations, if they have been provided with the proper roadmap along with the facilities. Few names like Hima Das, Munaf Patel, Bajrang Punia and many others have proven that only talent is not enough to win laurels for the nation, it is a combination of talent + nurture + facilities + opportunity which polishes a player to win medals at the higher level.

The millions of people who are in a lower socio-economic group cannot be thought of as one homogeneous group of people. It’s important to understand the diversity of lower socio-economic groups be it their age, gender, ethnicity, or whether or not they have a limiting disability.

The importance of Sports in Low Socio Economic is very important as:

1.    Sports can make the kids stay healthy

2.    It can maintain good fitness level

3.    Boost in self esteem

4.    Enhance leadership skills

5.    Undergoes positive mentoring

6.    Improved emotional fitness

7.    Be more social

8.    Enhance Discipline 

9.    Perform better in academics

10.Improved teamwork and cooperation

11.Efficient in time management

12.Develop a success mindset

13.Better patience and perseverance

14.Improved sleep

15.Develop Good life long habits

Access to sports can alter life chances and advance educational achievement but the power of education working with and through sports is something we as a nation should prioritise. Education through sports or sports along with education in schools is one of the most powerful local and international social tools that we have but fail to fully use.

The popularity of sport combined with carefully crafted education through sport interventions is not a solution but an important part of a solution.

Sports matters and education through sports mattes, Sports can reach areas where other policy area struggle to reach. Combined sports and education interventions make a difference.

Education is one of the greatest drivers to eradicate poverty and the concentration of poverty in areas of multiple deprivation. Sports can play a major role in Indian education if the political will is there to unlock the potential of the social toolbox that is sports.

In 2015, UNESCO issued a call to action for international policy makers for investing in further in sports and physical education on the grounds that it was integral to greater educational attainment.

Pratik Puri

11/06/2021