Despite the tall claims of the government of Khel Mahakumbh recognition, there’s a disparity in infrastructure. When the basic playgrounds are not being provided, how will the ‘sports culture’ of the state grow?

In a recent report released by the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education and Literacy stated that 77% of schools across the country have playgrounds, but Gujarat faces a shortfall, with almost 6,332 schools lacking these facilities.

These flash statistics on Unified District Information system for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2021-22 Flash Statistics reported that  77% of schools in India have playground infrastructure facilities in India released in 2021-22.

As per the report, in  Gujarat 6,332 schools did not have playground facilities. The government also claims that sportspersons of Gujarat are getting recognition from Khel Mahakumbh. But the picture on the other side of the coin is somewhat different.

The total number of schools in Gujarat is 53,851 including 34,699 government, 5,590 government-aided and 13,559 private unaided recognized schools.

The Khel Mahakumbh, launched in 2010 by the then chief minister Narendra Modi, completes 14 years. Despite this, the state education department has not taken appropriate action to fulfil the minimum requirement of playgrounds for schools.

Khel Mahakumbh has created a sports environment in rural, taluka, district, municipal and metropolitan areas to encourage students, youth, men and women as well as senior citizens to participate in various sports.

But the situation is reversed when it comes to the children, as they are devoid of a playground in the school itself, the question arises as to where the children play.

What the Supreme Court directs:

A school cannot exist without a playground. On March 3, 2023, Justice M R Shah and Justice B V Nagarathna, in their orders on a review petition said, “There cannot be any school without a playground. Even the students who study in such (referring to the rural set-up) a school are entitled to a good environment.”

Other amenities in schools of Gujarat:

According to this data, in Gujarat there are total 53,851 schools in the state in which following amenities are available:

Library/Book Bank/Reading Corner - 51, 693

Digital Library - 1,347

Kitchen Garden - 22, 829

Girls’ Toilet - 52, 334

Boys’ Toilet - 51,674

Internet Facility available in 49, 522 schools

Government schools in Gujarat, school is to teacher ratio is 1:5 and in private school the ratio is 1:8

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