INTRODUCTION 

    The Mizoram State Sports Council (MSSC) and Samagra Shiksha Mizoram (SSM), in the presence of Dr. Vanlalthlana, Hon’ble Minister for Education, Mizoram, and Pu Lalnghinglova Hmar, Hon’ble Minister for Sports & Youth Services, Mizoram, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 13 January 2025. Through this MoU, the Grassroots Sports Development Programme (GSDP) was implemented across various parts of Mizoram for a period of six (6) months during the financial year 2025–2026.


1.     GRASSROOTS SPORTS

    Grassroots Sports serves as the foundation for introducing boys and girls aged 6–14 to sports and for imparting basic knowledge and skills of sports. It aims to make children aware that sports are an important means for safety, happiness, and pursuing a positive life path. After understanding the true spirit of sports, it becomes the first guiding platform for nurturing them into capable and valuable individuals in the future. Grassroots Sports is the most important foundation for sports development.

1.1     IMPORTANCE

•    Sports promote inclusivity and equality, irrespective of skin color, gender, religion, tribe, or community, thereby fostering unity among all.

•    It provides children with holistic development, helping them grow physically and mentally, and training them to understand their strengths and weaknesses.

•    It serves as an important platform for identifying talented children.


2.     OBJECTIVES

    The GSDP is designed to provide structured basic sports training for school children aged 6–14, to identify and nurture their talents, and to enhance their learning and abilities. It is a guiding programme aimed at providing better opportunities and broader exposure to develop their skills.

India is preparing with the vision of hosting the 2036 Olympics. In alignment with this vision, the Government of Mizoram is implementing “Empowering Mizoram Sports (EMS)” under its flagship programme, The Mizoram Bana Kaih (Handholding) Policy 2024. In coordination with the goal of enabling Mizoram to produce the maximum possible athletes to represent India in the 2036 Olympics, the GSDP will be implemented accordingly.


3.     MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

3.1     The GSDP will cover school children aged 6–14 years.

3.2     The programme was conducted without disturbing regular academic classes.

3.3    The programme was implemented for a period of six (6) months.


4.     SPORTS DISCIPLINES

    The selection of sports disciplines under the GSDP is based on both Olympic Vision Sports and popular sports. During 2025–2026, activities will be undertaken in the following nine (9) sports disciplines (in alphabetical order):

1. Archery        

2. Badminton        

3. Boxing

4. Football    

5. Hockey

6. Judo    

7. Taekwondo

8. Weightlifting

9. Wrestling