350 school students distributed sports kits

Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 350 children studying in government schools in the city will now have brand new hockey sticks, footballs, skipping ropes and spikes for their sports training sessions.

On Wednesday, the City Corporation distributed sports kits for children undergoing training under the Kalari sports training scheme for athletics, games and swimming. The Corporation bought the kits at a cost of Rs.8 lakh.

G.R. Anil, Chairman of the Corporations Standing Committee on Education, handed over the kits at a function at SMV High School.

Launched three years ago, the Kalari training scheme covers children selected from 116 schools under the jurisdiction of the Corporation.

�We have spent Rs.42 lakh on the scheme so far. As many as 600 students, boys and girls, have received training and 350, including 90 belonging to the Scheduled Castes, are undergoing training in various disciplines, Mr. Anil says.

Training sessions are held three days a week at the Central Stadium.

A 10-day special camp is also organised. The Corporation has established a bank of 20 physical education trainers for the scheme.