Under NEP 2020, Gujarat will distribute over 34,000 sports kits to schools to promote physical education and holistic student development statewide.
In a major push to promote physical education and holistic development in schools, the Gujarat government has announced a statewide initiative to distribute over 34,000 sports kits to primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools. This move is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes not just academic learning but also the physical and emotional growth of students.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the guidance of Education Minister Dr. Kuber Dindor and Minister of State for Education Praful Panseriya, this project reflects the state’s deep commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals. With a total investment of over ₹29.45 crore, the initiative is set to benefit thousands of children across Gujarat, encouraging them to stay active, develop sportsmanship, and experience the joy of physical fitness.
This effort is not an isolated one—it builds on Gujarat’s rich history of student-focused programs such as the Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav, both of which were launched in 2003 to boost school enrollment and ensure that no child is left behind. While these programs helped bring children into schools, the current move takes it a step further, aiming to enrich the school environment by integrating sports into everyday learning.
Each comprehensive sports kit includes 30 different types of sporting equipment, designed to appeal to a wide range of student interests and abilities. The kits will contain items like carrom boards, cricket bats in various sizes, badminton rackets, shuttlecocks, footballs, volleyballs, handballs, javelins, discus, skipping ropes, chess sets, and much more. Equipment like marking cones, hurdle sets, relay batons, tennis balls (soft and hard), stopwatches, and air pumps will also be included—ensuring that schools can set up proper training sessions, team games, and inter-school competitions.
Importantly, the distribution is planned across five zones, carefully covering every district in Gujarat. From the northern districts like Banaskantha and Mehsana to coastal areas like Porbandar and Valsad, and tribal belts like Dahod and Narmada—the goal is to ensure that no school is left out. The kits will be delivered up to the cluster level, ensuring accessibility even in remote and rural locations.
Unlike the earlier approach in 2022, where funds were allocated to schools to procure sports materials individually, this time the government is directly supplying the kits through the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. This new approach aims to eliminate disparities in quality, prevent misuse of funds, and streamline the procurement process. With standardized kits, every student, whether in a government school in a big city or a remote tribal village, will have access to uniform and quality sports resources.
Officials from the education department emphasize that the importance of this move goes far beyond physical health. Regular involvement in sports has been shown to contribute significantly to emotional, social, and cognitive development. Sports teach teamwork, discipline, resilience, leadership, and time management—skills that are essential for success not just in school, but in life.
“These values cannot be taught in a textbook,” said one senior official. “They are learned on the field, in the spirit of fair play, in the highs and lows of winning and losing. This is where character is built.”
By giving sports equal importance in the education ecosystem, Gujarat is aligning with NEP 2020’s vision of education that develops the head, heart, and hand—intellectual, emotional, and physical intelligence.
As these sports kits reach schools across the state, they carry with them more than just balls and rackets. They carry opportunity, confidence, and the freedom to move, play, and grow. In classrooms and playgrounds, Gujarat is quietly shaping a healthier, happier, and more holistic future for its children—one sports kit at a time.
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