Dharmendra Pradhan Launches ‘Football for Schools’ Distribution Drive in West Bengal

Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan presided over the launch of the Football for Schools (F4S) programme in West Bengal on Sunday, kicking off a massive initiative to distribute over 88,000 FIFA footballs to schoolchildren across the state. The event, held at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, Fort William, Kolkata, was part of a nationwide effort to integrate sports with education and nurture a football culture from the grassroots level.

The programme was organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and was simultaneously conducted in 21 Kendriya Vidyalayas across all districts of West Bengal. At the Kolkata event alone, 2,487 footballs were distributed to 349 schools.

Speaking at the event, Shri Pradhan highlighted that the initiative is set to benefit over 15 to 16 lakh students in West Bengal and approximately one crore children across India, with nearly 10 lakh footballs to be distributed under the F4S programme. He emphasized the transformative potential of a single football in inspiring children, especially in rural and under-resourced schools.

Joining him at the event were Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education and Development of the North Eastern Region, and Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Senior education officials including Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), and Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary, DoSEL, were also present.

Dr. Majumdar, in his remarks, lauded the integration of sports into the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, describing it as essential for holistic development. “A healthy body nurtures a healthy mind,” he said, underscoring how NEP places equal emphasis on academics and physical education.

Shri Thakur stressed the long-term significance of sports in shaping disciplined, goal-oriented individuals and building talent for international arenas. He called the F4S initiative a vital step in rekindling children’s passion for football.

Shri Sanjay Kumar commended the collaboration with FIFA, AIFF, and SAI, stating that the programme is a clear reflection of the government’s commitment to making sports accessible to every child. He reiterated that under NEP 2020, sports are recognized as a core part of education.

The F4S programme, a global initiative led by FIFA, is being implemented in over 130 countries. In India, the programme is steered by the Ministry of Education with support from AIFF and the Sports Authority of India. With FIFA contributing over 9.6 lakh footballs to Indian schools, the initiative marks a historic effort to embed sports into the heart of school education.

The event concluded with an exhibition football match and student speeches that reflected growing enthusiasm for the sport and optimism about India’s sporting future.