The health education in India started with the evolution of Gurukula system. (It was residential schooling system in the ancient India with the students were living near or with the Guru, in the same house.) The Kshatriyas (the kings) who believed that the protection and the rule of the kingdom were their duty and responsibility took the military training and learned archery. The health education got its place under British rule on the basis of Wood’s report in 1854.
The prevailing health education system in present India gives importance to the body building. Actually, a person should attain the development of all his abilities by the health education. With the development of the body, the health education should be advantageous for the development of students’ wisdom and personality. The qualities such as constant enthusiasm, unity, leadership skill, respect to the rules and the mental balance can be brought up by proper health education program.
The health education program can be divided into three:
1. Health games: football, volley ball, basket ball, cricket, hockey, tennis, etc.
2. Sports: Walking, Running, Jumping, Discuss throw, Javelin throw, Hammer throw, Swimming etc.
3. Physical exercises: Rustling, Weight lifting etc.
Ancient health education centers in Kerala were ‘Kalaris.’ The students were trained in different physical exercises there. Some of such Kalaris are still functioning. It was in the University College, Thiruvananthapuram that the modern physical education system was started for the first time in Kerala.
The physical education system is to be designed on the basis of the age, growth of the mind and body and the health condition. The education given to the pre-primary students should be suitable for the development of the senses and coordination of physical movements. The children at this should attain the ability to walk, run and throw. Sriyog Sadhanapatham has been giving free training to the students of this age with the cooperation of Anganvadis, Pre-Primary schools and the art and cultural organizations. In addition to that, programs for the parents to make them aware about the necessity of giving physical education to the children also are conducted.
The school and college students and the youth, especially the girls, should have physical training which is a necessity in modern times. The proper health education makes the girls capable to prevent any attacks from hooligans or rapists. The lack of fund withdraws many school managements from the health education programs. Hence, many interested students lose the opportunity for such education. Sadhanapatham understands this situation and it plans to make a project conduct a survey in the schools to find out the interested students and to give them physical training every school year with the help of prominent trainers.
Many interested students from financially backward families are expelled from the health education programs. As the part of our project, we propose to find out such students and help them financially to study in the schools under the Sports Council. There is no doubt that the success of this project of Sriyog will attain the growth of persons, society and ultimately the nation.