WHAT IF INDIA WINS 20 MEDALS AT OLYMPICS

With 20 medals, India will not only shatter all its previous records at Olympics but, also raise its standard at international level in terms of medal tally. Recently, a virtual medal tally report published by Gracenote caught my attention. As usual the table was topped by USA,CHINA,JAPAN and ROC(don't get confuse they are Russian athletes).However, Turkey and India were placed at same position with 20 medals each.

With 125 athletes qualified for Olympics, if we manage to secure 20 medals, which is quite impressive with win percentage of 16.6% .It's equivalent to USA win percentage of 95 medal tally with staggering 628 athletes qualified for Olympics. According to data, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan have around 500 athletes qualified with predicted 50 medal tally which contributes just 10% to winning percent. However, out of the total 42 sports event, contingent for only 19 sports was disbursed by India. Bhavani Devi(Fencer), Arjun Lal Jat and  Arvind Singh(serving in Army, Rowing), Srihari Natraj and Sajan Prakash(Swimming) made history by debuting for India in these sports event. However, Volleyball, Rugby, Handball and Taekwondo are sports where India still needs debut.

OLYMPICS WAR

Olympics war is much like a cold war which happens every fourth year. Now, it's replaced by China to former Soviet Union. But, the competitor USA has been stagnant. With USA leading the medal tally in Olympics with massive 2828 medals, the combined medals of than Soviet Union, Russia and China is not sufficient to match the zenith of USA. After world war 2, dominating the Olympics games came to be seen by Soviet officials and leaders as promoting Communism. Intensive athletic programs from grade school, frequent competition and rewards for excellence built its high estate in international sports. At 14 ,boys and girls who show promise are taken out of normal school activities three times a week and sent to special centers in their city to train with elite group which is still imbibed in Russian education . But, with number of doping cases increasing in Russian athletes, the negative perception and frequent ban has caught attention. However, China also replicated the Soviet model with more rigorous and intensive training. Here, promising youngsters are selected at young age and sent to special state sponsored boot-camp style training center where they are prepared for international competition. By the time of 1988 Olympics in Seoul, China had spent an estimated 260 million dollars to develop a national sports program. That year they won only five gold medals ,yet many athletes entered the system who could do well in future Olympics. In preparation of Beijing Olympics more than 30,000 athletes were training full time, five times more than the number who actually compete. 

The market for professional sports in USA is roughly 69 billion dollar,50% larger than than that of entire Europe, middle east and Africa combined. Sports are particularly associated with education in USA ,with most high schools and university having organized sports. However, India should promote one sports in one state based upon the food and nutrition habit. The state of Haryana has done significant in promotion of boxing and wrestling as their state sports.. Similarly this model should be replicated at national level for improved performance of athletes at international level.       

  

     

FARM BILL AND PROTEST

Green revolution which introduced HYV seeds in Indian market brought revolution through aggravation of high yield and productivity of farmers produce. It was first introduced particularly in the state of Punjab which evolved as the grainary state of India.By,1970 it was producing 70% of India's food grains and income of the farmers elevated to 70%.Moreover, it contributed significantly to India's economy. Following which all the Indian state aspired to achieve this milestone. Today,not only Punjab but Bihar,Telangana Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh,West Bengal and Haryana have contributed significantly in growth of wheat, Paddy and rice. India's export has grown rapidly in past decade specifically of Wheat and paddy,FCI godowns are stiff-necked from the abundance of these crops.

The farm laws passed by the government being opposed by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana has put several questions on the table? The three laws which are percepted by the government as the game changer has been creating chaos all over the country. The dissent which turned violent during Republic Day has presented a autocratic image of democratic and secular India. In this adversary the opportunistic are smearing their own fake propaganda of  "Khalistan".The three laws proposed by the government talks about introducing the concept of contract farming, prohibiting the APMC to levy extra cess and tax on farmers produce. Moreover, allowing them to sell there produce to other state APMC. However,removal of certain crops from essential commodities particularly potato,edible oils and tomato has raised eyebrows of the farmers.

However, the major bone of contention issue is speculation on removal of MSP. With government giving assurance on validation of MSP, farmers contesting this claim and want written assurance. The dependency of farmers from Punjab and Haryana on Paddy and Wheat has amplified.Today there 90% of the productive land involve in agriculture of crops included in essential commodities and guarantees MSP. The government of Punjab and Haryana have taken necessary steps to wean the farmers but due to lack of funds have failed to diversify the agriculture produce.      

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

 The education policy was unveiled in the year 1968,followed by education policy of 1986,followed by 1992 and the new education policy of 2020.It aims at improving the lower level as well as higher level of education. It emphasis on giving primary education in regional language upto grade 5.Moreover,it talks about increasing the public investment from earlier 4.6% to 6%.The forty second amendment act in the year 1976 brought the education from state list to concurrent list, allowing center and state to come to consensus on issue of education. The Right to Education act of 2009 made primary education for children aged 6-14 years compulsory and also deemed it as fundamental right. The new National education policy not only ensure investment but also talks about increasing the gross enrollment ratio as well as infrastructure and skills in new India.

It talks about educating the students in their regional language upto grade five which is a significant way as it facilitates quick learning and expands the brain. Moreover, it also removes the bone of contention  debate between English and Hindi as local language is the best source of imbibing knowledge. It breaks the protocols of k-12 education making it 5+3+3+4 pattern education with low weightage to rote based learning. It talks about introducing vocational training for 11 to 14 age group and also compulsory 10 days internship from local experts, opening opportunities for them to be skilled from very early age. The weightage of board exam is also devalued however, these exams will be conducted with no change. Moreover it also opens opportunities for students to re appear for board papers, if they believe there's scope for improvement.

The National Testing Agency will be responsible for conducting all exams to get admission into higher education. It talks about increasing the gross enrollment ratio from earlier 26% to 50%.GEP is the average number of student in age group of 18-26 pursuing higher education. Drop outs from first year will also be entitled for degree. PHD degree will be easily facilitated with research after graduation.

However people have raised their eyebrows and a contention has evolved between center and intellectuals on certain points.

1)The aggravation of public investment from 4.6% to 6% is not time framed.

2)Amplifying GEP upto 50% by 2035 will be a challenging task as it talks about cascading twice the number of seats of 70 years of independence in just 15 years.

3)It talks about introducing vocational training which requires a proper coordination between education and skills ministry.