Minister for Medical Education, Youth Service and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din today informed the House that Centre has launched a new scheme Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan in the Country for development of sports which would kick off from October 15. He said under this scheme sports fields in every panchayat and block in the State would be developed.
Replying to the supplementaries by several legislators on the main question by Hakim Mohammad Yasin today in the Legislative Assembly, the Sports Minister said that funds in this regard are being released by the Centre and under this scheme sports academics would be setup in every district. He said sports stadium in urban areas having population of above 50,000 would be also developed, for the purpose the Government has already submitted DPRs of Rs. 7 crore to the Centre for approval of funds, adding that sports stadia in these urban areas would be developed subject to availability of land as there is no compensation of land under the scheme.
The Sports Minister said that indoor stadia at Poonch and Pampore would be completed in due course of time for which funds have been also arranged. Mr. Taj said that under NYK 8000 youth have been engaged in the State during 2010 for two years and as per the central guidelines another 8000 more youth were engaged under the scheme in the State and the demand for extension of NYC youth already engaged was also taken up with the centre which is under their consideration.
The Sports Minister said that during last three years no funds were received from the Centre under PIKA. He, however, said that the government has submitted utilization certificates of the projects and now funds to the tune of Rs. 2 crore were received and liabilities would be cleared.Responding to a suggestion by Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, the Sports Minister also informed the House that the Department has already started counselling of drug addicted youth at GMCs of Srinagar and Jammu. He said Government would also consider to setup drug de addiction and rehabilitation centers at sports stadia. He said the department has a provision of youth counselling and hoped to extend it to district level.
Replying to the main question, the Sports Minister said that Rs. 18.10 lakh have been incurred on the development of play grounds and mini stadia in Khan Sahib Constituency during last two years under State and District Plans. He also gave detailed brief of physical and financial achievements registered for development of sports infrastructure under State and district plans in Kashmir pision during last two fiscals.Legislators, Mr. M. Y. Tarigami, Mr. Ajiaz Ahmed Jan, Mir Zahoor Ahmed, Advocate Abdul Haq, Nizamu-ud-Din Bhat, Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia and Ms. Indu Pawar raised supplementaries.