Kozhikode: Disha' to spot tribal talents

KOZHIKODE: Disha, a district child protection's sport-oriented programme exclusively for children in  orphanages and from tribal communities, has taken off at St Thomas High School, Kozhenchery. “The programme has been launched in the light of the knowledge that there is hardly any sport activity schemes for such children. Hopefully, the talents should be identified through ‘Disha’ and put into the next level,” said District child protection officer  A.O Abeen. As many as 150 students are taking part in the five-day camp which started at the school on January 27. This includes children from government children home, orphanages and the Model Residential School Vadasserikkara.

State Sport Council will select sporting talents and  train them in their choicest item. “Already well-known coaches such as Thomas Master had spotted the talent and conveyed that they should be trained,” added Mr Abeen. The idea is to send the identified talents to government sports schools. “Currently there are quite a handful of programmes to take care of the health and psychological needs of the children of orphanages and tribal families. But their interest in sport was a neglected area. Many students though, weak in studies, have an innate calling for sport activities,” said an official of Social Justice Department.