Chennai: From riding waves on a windsurfboard to taking to the skies with paragliding, college and school students staying in Tamil Nadu’s Social Justice Department hostels could have opportunities to explore and excel in adventure sports that many have little access to or avenues to learn.The social justice department oversees around 1,400 institutions, according to the inputs provided, of which 14 are in Chennai. The state plans to identify interested and physically capable students and provide them with exposure and training in specialised sporting disciplines under Sigaram, one of two initiatives — the other being Dheeram — aimed at nurturing sporting talent among students in institutions run by the social justice department.Students residing and studying in social justice hostels under the social justice department actively participate in conventional sports such as football, volleyball, badminton, and athletics. However, opportunities to participate in emerging and alternative sports such as horse riding, rowing/boating, and windsurfing are limited. The proposed scheme provides structured training in alternative sports, diversifies sports opportunities, broadens student participation, identifies young sporting talents, and creates opportunities to participate in high-level competitions.“Sigaram Special Sports Skill Development Scheme is to be introduced as a pilot for Chennai and Thoothukudi hostel students. Training related to yachting/sailing will be provided to students residing and studying in social justice college hostels in Chennai, and training related to kayaking and kite-surfing will be provided to students residing and studying in social justice college hostels in Thoothukudi,” said N Subbaiyan, secretary, social justice department. A common procedure will be followed in both locations for student selection, phased implementation, training, and safety.Under the Dheeram Sports Incentive Scheme sports talent identification screening tests may be conducted in all districts through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). This will be applicable for the conventional sports.“Students with interest in sports will be selected by the SDAT across hostels in all districts using standardised selection methods – individual sports such as the 30m flying start sprint and high jump, and team sports such as basketball, cricket, and football. The selected students will be provided intensive training by the SDAT and prepared for district/state-level sports competitions,” said social justice department minister Vanni Arasu.
