Every village in JK to get football club: Imran Ansari

Minister announces Rs 50 lakh for each club; Terms sports key for channelizing youth energy

          SRINAGAR, MAY 15: In a bid to boost sports activities, Minister for Youth Services & Sports, Technical Education and Information Technology, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari today announced Rs 50 lakh each establishment of football club in villages across the State.

          The Minister said this while chairing 132^nd Standing Committee Meeting of J&K State Sports Council.

The Minister called for keeping sports infrastructure reserved for two days in a week exclusively for the girls. He also asked officers for making efforts to provide advance training in various sports outside the State.

          Terming sports as the key for channelizing youth towards the betterment of the State, the Minister said that JK’s youth already have proved their mettle it in the backdrop of recent sports events at national and international levels.

"Our sportspersons bagged Gold Medals because of their sheer grit and hard work," he said. “We must celebrate our sports achievements and encourage youth to come forward to showcase their sports talent,” he added.

          The Minister maintained that the Government is trying every bit to create world class sports facilities for the local talent to flourish. On the occasion the Minister directed creation of IT Unit in the State Sports Council for the speedy dissemination of information about sports events. He also announced enhancement of honorarium of the contractual coaches and Rs 3 lakh to each District Sports Council for the promotion of sports activities.

          The meeting was informed that maintenance and building of infrastructure for sports activities should be carried out on priority basis. The Minister also asked officials that Secretary Sports Council will monitor the sports activities and appoint experts for the screening of sports candidates.

          In the meeting it was decided that Joint Secretaries and Associations at domestic level should recognise the different sports associations like Throw Ball, J&K State Rowing, J&K Bridge, J&K Mallakhamb, J&K SepakTakraw, J&K Shooting Ball, J&K Triathlon, J&K Motor Sports, J&K Amateur Soft Tennis, J&K Rollball. However the Minister also asked officials for the recognition of new Sports Associations. Meanwhile various decisions for management and functioning of the sports department were undertaken during the meeting.

          Among others, the meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Finance, Navin Chowdhary, Secretary State Sports Council, Wahid-ur-Rehman Parra, Secretary Planning, Saleem Sheshgar, Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Hilal Parray and others.