The All India Schools Sports Association organizes annual national sports competitions, featuring a range of athletic disciplines such as swimming, basketball, and wrestling. Each year, state governments across India select talented students to represent their respective regions in the prestigious national sports event. The latest edition of the games commenced on 6 June 2023 Delhi and is scheduled to continue until the 12 June 2023.
Unfortunately, the national sports event will see no student from Tamil Nadu participate as their names were not sent by the concerned authorities. 247 students across Tamil Nadu who were to participate have been excluded from the games.
This has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the lackadaisical attitude of the Tamil Nadu School Education Department which comes under DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.
The School Education Department, has shifted blame saying that they were not given enough time to look into the matter. However, the circular was reportedly sent to the Principal Inspector of Physical Education on 11 May 2023.
DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh has acknowledged the issue and said that a “suitable explanation” would be provided.
There were allegations that the State Principal Physical Education Inspector, Gopalakrishnan, failed to bring the letter requesting student participation to the attention of higher officials in the School Education Department. He has now been been suspended.
Opposition leaders have strongly condemned the incompetence and the laxity of the DMK government on the matter.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai expressed his disappointment on Twitter, stating that school students from Tamil Nadu have been deprived of the chance to participate in national-level competitions. He criticized the complacency of the school education department for not selecting Tamil Nadu students to represent in the national games
பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கான தேசிய விளையாட்டுப் போட்டிகளில் பங்கு கொள்ள, தமிழகம் சார்பாக அணி தேர்வு செய்யப்படாததால், தமிழகப் பள்ளி மாணவர்கள், தேசிய அளவிலான போட்டிகளில் பங்கேற்கும் வாய்ப்பினை இழந்துள்ளார்கள். புதுச்சேரி சார்பாக தேசிய அளவில் மாணவர்கள் பங்கேற்கும்போது, தமிழகப் பள்ளி…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 9, 2023
On 9 June 2023, he tweeted that, “School students from Tamil Nadu have lost the opportunity to participate in national level competitions as they have not been selected for the national games for school children. The complacency of the school education department in not selecting the Tamil Nadu school students’ team, while Puducherry participating at the national level is highly condemnable.”
He further condemned the government saying “Due to the negligence of the School Education Department of Tamil Nadu, the school students of Tamil Nadu have been neglected.”
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran too lashed out at the DMK government for the fiasco.
“It is said that the students who participate in national sports competitions and get prizes will get extra marks for reservation in higher education. But the students are suffering due to the negligence of the school education department.”, Dhinakaran in his statement said.
அகில இந்திய பள்ளிகள் விளையாட்டு குழுமம் சார்பில் இந்த ஆண்டுக்கான விளையாட்டு போட்டிகள் கடந்த 6ஆம் தேதி டெல்லியில் தொடங்கிய நிலையில் தமிழ்நாட்டில் இருந்து பள்ளிகள் சார்பில் ஒரு மாணவர் கூட பங்கேற்கவில்லை என்ற தகவல் அதிர்ச்சியளிப்பதாக உள்ளது.
போட்டிகளில் பங்கேற்க 247 மாணவர்களை…
— TTV Dhinakaran (@TTVDhinakaran) June 9, 2023
Though the issue comes under the ambit of the School Education Department helmed by DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, it is noteworthy to mention that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin is the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.