In order to give a complete facelift to the existing Sports School and College at Jalandhar, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal has asked the Sports Department to develop these institutes as ‘Sports Institute of Jalandhar’ for grooming the budding players of the region to compete in national and international sporting events.Presiding over a high level meeting of the Sports and Education departments to develop ‘Integrated Education and Sports Hub’ on nearly 40 acres of land at Kapurthala Road in Jalandhar, on Saturday at Chief Minister’s residence, the Chief Minister said that this ‘Sports Institute of Jalandhar’ would be completely different from the Centre of Sports Excellence to be developed in the city. Expressing concern over the dilapidated infra structure in Sports School and College, Mr. Badal said that these institutes were established to produce word class players from the region but with the passage of time they have lost their sheen. He said that the need of the hour was to develop both the Sports School and College on the lines of newly set up Sports School at Ghudda near Bathinda to provide ultra modern sports facilities to the young players.
Laying thrust on the complete overhaul of these premier Sports institutes, the Chief Minister asked the officers of the Sports Department to rope in the experts from National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala to advise them for this herculean task. He said that apart from athletic track and grounds for football, volleyball, basketball, hockey and other games the students should be provided an ultra modern gymnasium for the sporting activities. Likewise Mr. Badal also said that existing Swimming Pool in this institute must be converted into a world-class all weather one so that it could be used throughout the year. The Chief Minister also said that the existing boarding and lodging facilities in both the School and colleges should be expanded so that more and more sportsperson could avail this facility.
He also underscored the need for providing separate hostel facility for the school and college students so as to ensure their overall development. ‘The sole motive is to develop the ‘Sports Institute of Jalandhar’ as a nursery from where world class players can be produced’ added Mr. Badal. Deliberating upon the issue of setting up a special school for the meritorious students securing 80% or more marks in the Government schools on six acres land along with Sports School and College, the Chief Minister said that all these three institutions should have separate entities with Sports school and college acting as catalyst of promoting sports while the Special school giving thrust to professional education to the bright students. He said that the boarding and lodging facilities besides the campus of these institutes must be completely separated from each other to fulfill the basic motive behind setting up these institutes. Mr. Badal asked the Education and Sports Department to co-ordinate with the Town Planning department and PUDA for ensuring judicious use of every inch of land available with them to promote sports and education in region. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Principal Secretary Education Mrs. Anjali Bhawra, Secretary Sports Mr. Ashok Gupta, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Mrs. Shruti Singh, Director Sports Mr. Shiv Dular Singh and Chief Architect Mrs. Swapna.