REPORT OF THE ZONAL LEVEL SPORTS MEET - TAMILNADU – ZONE.

30.08.2009 – Sankarankovil (Tirunelveli District)

Introduction:
For any civil society, its traditional games, cultural moorings and heritage symbols are its marks of pride. Where these identities are not fostered, the society is bound to lose its glory.  Hence, it has always been the effort of those who cherish their heritage to promote the age old customs and traditions as well as the life styles.

The advent of globalization, commercialization, modernization and consumerism has its telling effects on the traditional ethos.  The traditional sports and games are also not an exception to this general condition. With the unhindered spread of western games like cricket and tennis and the unjustified publicity given to such games with a commercial motive, the traditional games played with eagerness by our forefathers and by us also at our younger age have almost vanished from the scene. The present day youth have no time for outdoor games because of the competitive educational system and when they return to their abodes, they are mostly glued to the idiot box churning out useless serials and film-based programmes.

These conditions are resulting in unhealthy physical status, unfriendly attitude, selfishness, tendency towards criminality, lack of confidence to face outside world, absence of camaraderie among the present-day children as well as adolescents. The India Programme Office of the TdH-NL is very much interested in removing the above mentioned undesirable qualities among the children and so it is taking all steps for preserving the traditional games and cultural heritage.  The partners of TdH-NL in India lend their whole hearted support to this effort and enthusiastically organize and promote traditional games in the name of community play every year. This year, the opportunity organizing the zonal level community play was given to the SIVA Trust, Tirunelveli and the Trust team did their best to make it a successful and memorable event. The event was conducted on August 30, 2009 at Sankarankovil, the town closest to the project working area. As a prelude to the mega event, a torch bearing relay run was organized for a distance of nearly 175 KMs. from the southern most tip of Kanyakumari to the event venue at Sankarankovil for 3 full days, utilizing the opportunity to spread the message of need for preserving traditional games, amongst the populace in the villages and towns enroute. This relay run by uniformed youth not only attracted the public on the way who watched the same with interest, but also the media personnel, who gave wide coverage to the event. Video clippings were telecast in local and regional channels and all the newspapers published from the region carried the news item without fail.  On two occasions, the chief convenor of the zonal play gave interview to the TV channels, once at Kanyakumari on August 27 and again at Sankarankovil on August 30, explaining the reasons behind promoting and organizing such traditional games and cultural events.

Zonal level planning:
The Tamilnadu Zonal level planning meeting of TdH-NL partners was held at Hotel Krishna, Madurai on the afternoon of 20-7-09 for around 2 hours, to discuss plans for organising the Zonal level play Mela-2009. SIVA Trust, Tirunelveli, being the organiser of this zonal-level play mela arranged the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the following partners:-
1) Society for Human Education (SHE), Madurai      --  2
2) St. Joseph’s Home for Children, Kalugumalai        --  2
3) Bro. Siga Social Service Guild, Chennai-39             --  1
4) HUWAD, Nanjampalayam                                     --  2
5) New Life, Trichy                                                      --  1
6) HEDCO, Madurai                                                   --  2
7) WORD, Namakkal                                                  --  1
8) CERTCO, Tiruchendur                                           --  1
9) SIVA Trust, Tirunelveli                                           --  2

SIVA Trust Managing Trustee S.S.Shiva welcomed the members and initiated discussion for the meeting. He informed that the zonal mela is being planned at Sankarankoil in Tirunelveli district, which is a taluk headqauarters town closer to the working area of the Trust and the Govt HS School ground in the towns is the biggest open area available for the mela. Because of festivities on August 15 (Independence Day) and August 23 (Vinayaga Chathurthi) and the need for organising the mela on a week end holiday for the sake of availability of school ground to conduct the mela, it was decided to have the mela on August 30 Sunday.
The meeting then finalised the following schedule of preparation:-

• All partners to finalise dates for village level events and project level events and inform the dates to zonal coordinator before 25-7-09.
• All the above events will be completed before 15-8-09.
• Report to be sent to zonal coordinator after the village level events and also after project level events in following format:-

Sl.No.  Name of Org.   No. of events    No. of participants   Boys   Girls   Men    Women                                                                  

• After all events, list of finalists attending the zonal mela, event wise should be sent to zonal coordinator before 18-8-09 for making necessary logistics.

The meeting then finalised the following events at village, project and zonal levels:-
1) Running (100 mtrs)   -- separate events for boys and girls
2) Relay  race (400 mtrs) -- separate events for boys and girls
3) Sack &  skip -- separate events for boys and girls
4) Kho kho -- separate events for boys and girls
5) Kili Thattu -- separate events for boys and girls
6) Nondi – For girls only                                      
7) Kabadi – For boys only
8) Pacha Kuthirai – For boys only
9) Top – For boys only

The participants for kabadi and relay race could be above 15 years. For other games, it could be below 15 years. After the project level events, the first and second winners of each event (28 in total for 14 events) could be brought for the zonal meet. Except SIVA Trust and St. Joseph’s Home, which are closer to the mela venue, other partners will bring around 30 participants each. SIVA and St.Joseph’s will each moblise 100 to 200 students and villagers from their working area. There could be separate event of pot breaking for women and 1000 mtrs fast walk or slow cycle race for men, only at the zonal level, in which the staff attending the mela can also participate.
For cultural programme, the partners agreed to bring the following teams:-
SIVA         -- Oyilattam & Sakkaiyattam
SHE           -- Oyilattam
HEDCO     -- Silambattam & Mixed Dance
St. Joseph’s—Kaliyal (women) & Karagam
HUWAD   – Oyilattam & Self Defence
CERTCO   -- Kaliyal (men)
WORD       -- Oyilattam
BGSSS       -- Tribal dance
New Life    -- Karagam & Mixed Dance                    

The general programme finalised was – Rally of participants from Sankarankoil temple to Govt HS School ground (0.5 km) between 0930 to 1000 hrs., inaugural function, sports/games events from 1030 to 1300 hrs., followed by lunch, cultural programmes from 1500 hrs onwards and concluding function at the end.
It was informed that generally facilities are not adequate at Sankarankoil and the organisers will make all possible efforts to arrange minimum required facilities for the outside participants. Food pockets will be handed over to each team incharge at the time of lunch and they will arrange distribution to the team members brought by them.
Mr. A.Narayanan of SIVA Trust sought the cooperation of all senior partners in the successful conduct of the zonal play mela and thanked the participants for their presence in the meeting.  Tea and biscuits were served and the members disbursed.
After the meeting, information was received from MEC-OUTREACH, asking for more details regarding the events, comparing the status with last year’s play and including comparative study on the participation of girls and women, mobilisation of resources,
participation of CBOs in play, reduction of disparity among the community members (caste based, economy based, social status based, gender based, literacy based). This was also conveyed to all the partner organizations and they were requested to convey their schedules for play, complete the same in time, send reports on the above lines after completion of each level of play and also convey the list of final participants in the zonal play before August 18, to plan logistics adequately.
Village & Project level Mela:
The TdH-NL partners carried out the village and project level community play activities in their respective locations after orienting their staff. The recommended events were given priority, but some partners organized extra games of their choice. The details of the village level and project level plays conducted are narrated in the below mentioned table.

From the reports received through e-mail from some of the partners and also from the reports collected over phone from the others, it is estimated that a total of nearly 65,000 students and villagers participated in the village level games organized by the above 10 partners. Similarly, around 5000 students and villagers participated in the project level plays conducted. These participants were from different social groups of the society – 25% SCs; 35% MBCs; 38% BCs and 2% others. Economically, 70% are from low income group; 29% from middle income and 1% from higher income group. On the basis of religion, 70% are Hindus; 28% are Christians and 2% are Muslims.  Gender wise, 75% are women and 25% men.

A total of 433 players and 55 artistes for cultural programmes were selected for the zonal play event from the project level plays.  From each partner unit, a few number of staff members also accompanied the players. The SIVA Trust hosting the event mobilized more number of students and women SHG members from its working villages, which are nearer to the event venue.

In the past, such community plays organized by the partners drew the attention of the public only in the working areas of the partners and nearby towns. SIVA Trust planned to spread the message in a wider area and so the programme of torch bearing relay run was conceived. 11 youth undergoing vocational training in the computer institute run by SIVA Trust under TdH-NL project cane forward to take part in the run for 3 days and the team was prepared and accompanied by two staff members and an associate. Wide publicity was arranged in the media for both the relay run and the main zonal play event.  Invitations were printed well in advance and distributed to all concerned. 50,000 leaflets were printed for distribution among the public during both the programmes. Press meets were organized at Sankarankovil on August 25th and at Kanyakumari on August 26th. Necessary police permission was obtained for both the programmes by properly approaching the concerned jurisdictional police officers.

As planned, the torch-bearing relay run started from Gandhi Mantap, Kanyakumari on 27-8-09 morning. In this relay run 11 students studying in our computer centre at Thirumalapuram took part. A vehicle fitted with mike arrangement followed the torch bearer and mike propaganda was carried out regarding the values of traditional rural games wherever there have been groups of people on the way and also on important village junctions on the National Highway from Kanyakumari to Sankarankoil, via Suceendram, Nagercoil, Thovalai, Aralvaimozhi, Kavalkinaru, Panagudi, Valliyur, Nanguneri, Moonradaippu, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Manur, Thevarkulam, Vannikonendal, Thirumalapuram and Kurukkalpatti. A total of 50,000 handbills were also distributed on the occasion highlighting the importance of traditional games and informing about the zonal mela at Sankarankoil on August 30.

Before the inaugural function at Kanyakumari, Mr.S.S.Shiva, Managing Trustee, SIVA Trust gave an interview to all the major TV channels explaining why the mela is being conducted every year to remind the people about the traditional games, as the youth are slowly forgetting those games and are giving more importance only to cricket and tennis, which are basically western plays.  He urged the Central and State governments to promote the traditional games and provide facilities and encouragement to the rural youth to play such games. After the interview, the relay run was flagged off by Mr. M.N.G. Mani, Secretary General, International Council for Education of people with Visual Impairment, who expressed hope that the youth could definitely bring great changes in the society. The occasion was greeted by Fr. Thomas Thekkeyil, Director, KSSS; Sr.Lins, Santhi Nilayam, Paruthivilai, Nagercoil and industrialist Udyar of Valliyur. While Mr.A.Narayanan welcomed the members, Mr.B.Thanis of CERTCO proposed vote of thanks.

On the first day, the team had lunch at Kavalkinaru and night halt at Rural Uplift Centre, Nanguneri. On 28th, they had lunch at Palayamkottai and night halt at SIVA Trust office, Manur. On 29th, they had lunch at Vannikonendal and stayed at SIVA Trust office, Thirumalapuram.  They reached Sankarankoil on 30th morning. On their arrival, a half-kilo metre rally was organised from the famous Sri Sankaranarayanar temple to the mela venue at Sri Gomathi Ambal Government Boys Higher Secondary School, at 10-30 a.m. Media coverage for the programme was adequate at Kanyakumari, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. The local editions of all the newspapers published the news and some TV channels also telecasted the relay run. The runners were interviewed by TV channels at Tirunelveli also. Media coverage has been arranged at Sankarankovil also. The local TV channel, Bharathi TV carried announcement on the zonal meet for 10 days from August 20. Big flex boards were displayed at two important road junctions at Sankarankovil informing about the event. As a result there was wide publicity to the programme among the public. The participating students in the rally on 30th waited for about an hour in front of Sri Sankaranarayanar temple awaiting the arrival of the VIP who was scheduled to inaugurate the rally. Since it was an auspicious day for marriage ceremonies, many marriages took place in the temple and thousands of people visited the area. They eagerly watched the banners and placards carried by the students with slogans supporting traditional games.  The students distributed notices to all the onlookers and thus the message spread to a large section of people. The Isai Tamizh Kalai Kuzhu consisting of transgenders and also the inmates of SACRED Home, Nazareth were specially invited to perform in the event and their programmes in the beginning of the rally were added attractions. Though the commencement of the rally from the temple was delayed by one hour from the scheduled time, it was organized successfully, with the participation of students, SHG members and staff members from the partner organizations. All of them were provided with badges and they marched in twos.

The rally was flagged off by Mr.Kuwait Raja of Rajapalayam, a top business magnate in Kuwait and a renowned philanthropist of the area. Melaneelithanallur Union AIADMK Secretary S.Murugaiah lighted the torch and District Panchayat Vice President A.Raja Thalaivar handed over the same to the torch bearer. Nearly 1400 members including the slogan shouting school children and the VIPs marched the entire procession route through Sankarankovil bazaar for 30 minutes and reached the zonal play venue at Sri Gomathi Ambal Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Sankarankovil.

On reaching the ground, the torch was received by Mr.T.T.Ramesh Raja, M.D., Mayan Constructions, Tirunelveli and with that torch he lit the play lamp. After prayer song by SIVA Trust staff members, Project Coordinator Mr.A.Narayanan welcomed the gathering and thanked those who contributed for the success of the event. All the VIPs were presented with towels and memento. Mr.S.S.Shiva, Managing Trustee, in his presidential address, elucidated the need for such community plays and cultural programmes.  The special invitees also greeted the function and appreciated the efforts made for reviving the traditional games. Mr.T.T.Ramesh Raja started the first game of kabadi and all the events were conducted one by one. Other invitees like Pattapathu M.Mohammed Ali, Proprietor, Ali Motors & Sons, Tirunelveli, S.Millath Ismail, Southern Regional Convenor, IUML and Minnal Mohammed Ali, Proprietor, Ali Fertilizers, Manur, who came late, were made to start some other events of games. The following games were played from 11-30 a.m.:-

Name of event                               No. of participants

Kabadi                                                 48
Kho-Kho                                             44
400 metres running                             27
Pachakuthirai (girls)                            40
Pachakuthirai (boys)                           40
Nondi                                                  30
100 metres running (boys)                  26
Sack & skip (boys)                              22
Sack & skip (girls)                               12
100 metres running (girls)                   30
Kilithattu                                             29
Pot breaking (for women)                     4
Top (boys)                                           20
Ball shifting (for MR children)                            15   

The winners and runners were selected for all these games. Thereafter, lunch was served to all the participants from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thereafter cultural programmes were organized in the open yard within the school from 2-30 p.m. and the following teams took part:-
HEDCO, Madurai--                            Karagam and Mixed Dance
St. Joseph’s Home, Kazhugumalai--   Karagam
SIVA Trust, Tirunelveli                       Thappattam, Oyilattam, Chakkaiyattam &                 (inmates of SACRED  Home)--           Mankombu Attam
CERTCO, Tiruchendur--                    Silambattam & fire play
HUWAD, Dharapuram--                    Silambattam, sword play & fire play by boys
Isai Tamizh Kalai Kuzhu--                  Thappattam, Oyilattam & Mixed Dance
Shaaron MR School, Rajapalayam--   Karagam
There was enthusiastic response to all the programmes from the audience.  All the participants in the games and cultural programmes were issued with participation certificate. Packets of sweet, mixture and tea were served to all the participants. Thangapandi, Coordinator, SHE, Madurai proposed vote of thanks.

Review Meeting:
At the end of the event, a review meeting was conducted in which representatives of all the partners participated.  Initiating the discussion, Mr.S.S.Shiva explained the constraints under which the programmes were organized, the general inadequacy of facilities at Sankarankovil and thanked the partners for their support in organizing the programme. He conceded that there might have been some inconveniences and requested the partners not to mind the same. HUWAD representatives thanked the organizers for arranging sufficient facilities for the morning chores of the team members who arrived early in the morning. Mr. A. Narayanan mentioned about the financial difficulties faced as the area was not very familiar to the Trust and thanked the officials and donors for their timely help. Even fire engine and ambulance were kept in stand by mode to meet any eventuality. Mr. Shiva mentioned that some of the partners did not send their reports in time. Mr.Luis Karunakaran from MEC also appreciated the efforts taken for conducting the programme in the rural town.

WORD, Namakkal volunteered to organize next year’s zonal play mela in Namakkal. It was informed that the final play mela at MEC has been planned in the third week of November. The list of participants for that event from all the partners will be finalized from the winners list of zonal play, in consultation with MEC.

Programme Expenses:

ZONAL LEVEL COMMUNITY PLAY -2009 WINNERS LIST