Education Minister Punjab Dr Daljit Singh Cheema today said that for promoting sports culture in the state, the state government is committed for promoting sports from grassroot level and several efforts are being made in this regard. He said that he has fixed a target that each government school of the state should have participation in atleast one sports event during state level or zonal level games.Dr Cheema said this while speaking to media persons after inaugurating 61st Punjab State Inter-District School Athletics Meet at Guru Nanak Stadium, here today. More than 3000 athletes from 22 districts and 12 sports wings of the state are participating in this mega sports event which started today. During this six-day sports event, 96 events would be organised for Under-14, Under 17 and Under-19 in boys and girls categories.The Education Minister said that a formal letter in this regard has already been issued and the kind of response during 61st Punjab State Inter-District School Athletics Meet today is a proof of that. He said that he was really happy to see jam packed Guru Nanak Stadium and thousands of participants competing against each other.He informed that during the the last National School Games, Punjab stood third and this time, our state would definitely stand first.
"Because all our staff and sportspersons are working really hard to achieve this feat," said Dr Cheema.Dr Cheema also informed that six physical education periods per week are made compulsory in all government schools. He said for boosting the morale of sportspersons, free tracksuits would be given to all participants of state level games from next time onwards. He said besides this, the sports infrastructure which has already been strengthened at grass level would be put to full use so that Punjab emerges as the nursery of sports in the country. Dr Cheema said that if required, the sportspersons would also be made to undergo specialised training.While speaking at a function organised by Director General School Education and National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped at Guru Nanak Bhawan, here today later, Dr Cheema said that during a recent meeting with Union HRD Minister in Delhi, he took up this issue that a state of the art schools for disabled should be started in all districts of the country.