Ganta Srinivasa Rao: Physical education, yoga compulsory subject in schools, colleges

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh human resources minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao has said the government would introduce physical education and yoga classes in all schools and colleges, making sports a compulsory subject. This new schedule will be implemented from June this year to ensure that every child is physically literate and will participate in sports from age 6.

During Question Hour in the Assembly on Friday, the minister said the government would set up a committee with officials to inspect all the schools as regards the sports facilities they have. The government would take action on schools and they will be closed down if they do not have sports facilities.

The minister said the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) has taken steps to establish Regional Sports Schools in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kadapa. It is also proposed to establish academies at regional levels with international standards.

The minister said that, in Visakhapatnam, archery, cycling, swimming, shooting, weightlifting, canoeing and kayaking lessons will be provided. In Nellore, athletic, gymnastics, taekwondo, basketball and kho-kho will be listed. In Chittoor, fencing, judo, boxing, wrestling and hockey classes will be available.

The government has introduced a mechanism to monitor and ensure that schools do not skip sports.

Earlier, TD and BJP members expressed their concern over lack of sports facilities in the schools.

Raghava: 12 railway projects approved:

Transport minister Sidda Raghava Rao said the state government has approved 12 railway projects on cost-sharing basis between the railways and the state government.

The new line projects are of Nadikudi - Srikalahasti (309 km), Kadapa-Benga-luru (255.4 km), Kotipalli-Narsapur (57.21 km), Ka-kinada-Pithapuram (21.5 km), Tumkur-Rayadurg (95 km), Bhadrachalam- Kovvur (151 km), Cumbh-am-Proddutur (142 km) and Kondapalli- Kotha-gudem (125 km).

The doubling line projects are of the Vijaya-wada-Gudivada, Bhimavaram-Narsapur-Gudivada - Machilipatn-am, Bhimavaram -Nid-adavole (221 km), Guntur -Tenali (24.4 km), Yalah-anka-Penukonda and Dev-arapalli-Penukonda (48 km falls in AP) and Guntur- Guntakal (443 km) routes.

8 lakh Janmabhoomi applications pending:

Finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said that during the Janmabhoomi-Maavooru progra-mme, 52,19,904 applications were received till now.  Among them, 43,45,400 applications were disposed off and 8,74,504 applications are pending.