Over two lakh youth participated in 268 sports events across the Kashmir Division under different youth engagement programmes.This was informed in a meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan to review the performance of all District Level Task Force (DLTF) Committees.The Committees were constituted for youth engagement in sports and other extracurricular activities.District Development Commissioners of Kashmir Division, who are also heads of DLTF Committees in their respective jurisdictions, briefed the Div Com about the progress of sports events.It was give out that in Anantnag district 24583 youth participated in 24 different sports events, in Kulgam 21,000 in 25 events, in Shopian 11,000 in 40 events, in Pulwama 30,326 in 32 events, in Ganderbal 9,000 in 26 events, in Bandipora 14,007 in 16 events, in Kupwara 25,000 in 26 events, in Baramulla 21,881 in 25 events, in Budgam 40,000 in 14 events, in Srinagar 9,000 in 12 events and in Kargil district 17,400 youth participated in 28 sports events. A total of 2, 23,197 youth participated in 268 sports events across the Kashmir Division including Kargil district under different sports categories.The meeting was also informed that 4500 kits and uniforms will be distributed among the players besides felicitation of awards, medals and trophies. In Srinagar 17 Astro-Turf mats had been laid in Higher Secondary institutions to provide international standard facilities for the sportspersons. Construction of 503 play-fields has been taken up in which 265 are ready for use.It was further informed that from October 11, 2018, JK Sports Council will organize District and State level competitions of different sports events under ‘Khelo India’ programme in which more than 30,000 youth will participate.The Divisional Commissioner directed all DDCs to expedite the work on playfields and stadiums on priority basis besides start sports activities in ready-to-use stadiums. For the mass participation of youth, Div Com asked JK Sports Council to share sports calendar with concerned DDCs.He asked all DDCs to involve more youth in extracurricular activities like cultural programmes, painting, photography, singing competitions, seminars, debates, educational tours, awareness programmes, volunteer services etc, making green clubs, coaching clubs, skill development, career counselling and other youth-related activities, so that energies of youth are harnessed for constructive engagement. All DLTF committees were asked to send their holistic youth engagement plan to the divisional commissioner office within three days for the necessary course of action.The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir asked all concerned officers to work in close coordination so that youth engagement programmes become a big success across the valley as well as in the Ladakh region.Divisional Sports Officer JK Sports Council, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports, Executive Engineer JK Sports Council, Assistant Commissioner and other concerned officials were present in the meeting whereas all DDCs of the Kashmir Division participated in the meeting via video conferencing.