Assam Cabinet Decides to Launch Programme to Instill Olympic Values in Schools Students

GUWAHATI: The Assam cabinet has taken a decision on Friday to roll out Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) in 250 government-run as well as private schools in and around Guwahati which is expected to address the issues related to a sedentary lifestyle, dearth of concentration and dropping out of school by adolescents.

On Friday evening, State Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah informed that the state cabinet, which is headed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has given his nod to the inking of an MoU with the International Olympic Committee and Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust for implementation of the programme.

“Olympic Values Education Programme to be implemented in 250 government and private schools across Guwahati in association with Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT) for Rs 6 crore in 2024-2027,” said the cabinet decision.

The initiative will come handy in taking forward the sports sector of the state, according to Baruah.

With the training programme slated to be conducted in the campuses of the schools, it is likely to bring good news for Assam’s sports sector he is reported to have said. The government is also hoping that the bright prospects in sports from schools will be brought out through the OVEP.

OVEP is regarded to be based on the Olympic philosophy, which says that learning is facilitated through the development of body and mind in a balanced manner. It uses symbols of the Olympic Games, the themes of Olympism, and concentrates on the main points of the ancient and modern Olympic Games. A values-based curriculum is disseminated by OVEP, which helps shape the character of children and youth.

Olympism refers to the philosophy inculcated in the Olympic Games. Olympism is a philosophy that seeks to blend sport with culture, education, and international cooperation.

The cabinet expressed the hope that this initiative will meet the challenges of the present sedentary lifestyle, shortage of concentration and adolescent school drop-outs.

In this regard, a final approval to signing of a MoU with the International Olympic Committee and Abhinav Bindra Foundation is awaited.

Apart from this, the cabinet has also made a decision to implement the Assam Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, as per the GST Council’s recommendation.

It also approved the issuing of a notification under the Assam Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1939 for granting tax holiday on agricultural income for a period of 3 years with effect from April 1, 2023. This has been done to celebrate completion of 200 years of Assam’s Tea Industry.

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