Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the State Government was committed to promote sports activities at the village level so that talented players could come to fore and added that it would bring laurels to the State and the country at National and International levels. He was presiding over the Prize Distribution ceremony organised by Himachal School Sports Organization to honour the outstanding players here today.
Virbhadra Singh said that there was no dearth of talented players in the State but proper opportunities needed to be provided to them. He said that the State Government would consider to enhance the allowances of the players adding that there were much possibilities of adventurous sports in the State and Government was making efforts to explore them. Besides, the ecological conditions of the State were conducive to the adventurous sports. He said that the youth of the State could have more avenues of self employment by adopting the adventurous sports in a big way. He said that a provision Rs. 24 crore had been made in the current financial year to promote sports activities and develop infrastructure in the rural areas besides award money of Parshuram award had been doubled.
Congratulating the Mount Everest scaling NCC team, Chief Minister said that it was proud for the State as four members of the team including Shri Rajat, Shri Khimi Ram, Shri Karama Dhava and Shri Ashwani were from Himachal Pradesh. He also congratulated the six students of Lawrence School, Sanawar, district Solan who scaled the Mount Everest recently. He also congratulated the under -17 Handball team for winning Gold Medal and under-19 Handball team for winning Bronze Medal. He also gave prizes to Ms. Nneh Lata, coach of under 17 and under 19 Handball teams besides coaches and players who won medals at national and international levels for the State. He said that the performance of the sportsmen could be increased by developing better sports infrastructure at the village level.
Chief Minister also gave away prizes to the players who had performed outstandingly at national level in Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Handball and Volleyball. Earlier, Dinkar Burathoki, Director, Higher Education welcomed the Chief Minister and apprised him about the schemes being run by the Department to promote sports activities. Neeraj Bharati, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Brigadier Boni Mathew, NCC and senior officers of the Education Department were also present on the occasion.