Sports Ministry rues lack of sporting culture in country

"Sports in its active form in India is accessible to only one per cent of the population while play fields are available for only ten per cent."
Flagging these "alarming" statistics, Joint Secretary in Sports Ministry Onkar Kedia today said the government has plans to make stadia in every district and take sports to every village, making it available for every aspiring child.
"We, in the Sports Ministry, are seriously contemplating how to fight these shockingly alarming figures," Kedia said at the release of 'Power of Play' report commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission here.
We often restrict sports as a timepass and leisure while dealing with our children but never encourage them to pursue as a passion and career, he said.

"This mindset needs to be changed, else, all our efforts will go in vain. Only making stadiums and giving funds won't do," Kedia said.
Addressing the function, Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling emphasised the need to acknowledge the utility of sports as an active medium and catalyst for social change.

"For long Australia and India have shared great sports ties especially in the field of cricket. What I have observed that here we still don't see sports reaching among the masses in a more diversified manner.
"Sports, not just cricket but also other games must have participation from both men and women, from various castes and communities and also from all the parts of this geographically diversified country," he said.

The High Commissioner said Australia will work with the Indian government and actively encourage and involve participation of corporate sector in this initiative.
"We hope it would have a great impact in bringing out the social change. We, in our country, encourage our children actively to pursue sports. I have a daughter and son and they both play soccer," he said.