In order to promote sports activities in the state, the state government is making all out efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure so that the youth could exhibit their sporting talent in the national and international events. As a result of concerted efforts by the government, the players of the state performed brilliantly in the 18th Asian Games organized in Jakarta recently where three women's kabaddi players won silver medals and a male player also got the silver medal.This year, the state government has launched 'Mukhya Mantri Khel Vikas Yojna', under which precision has been made to develop play ground in each Assembly constituency. The approval for the developing nine new play grounds has been given by making a provision of Rs. 6.80 crore. Similarly, this year Rs. 15 crore have been earmarked for construction of multipurpose intersection sports complexes, playgrounds and other structural facilities in the state.A provision of Rs. 2 crore has also been made for the revival of play grounds besides Rs. 45.43 crores for promoting sports activities in different parts of the state during current fiscal.With a view to encourage the players of the state to participate in international level competitions, the state government has increased the amount of medal winners of the Olympic and Commonwealth games. The amount given to the gold medal in the Olympics has been increased to two crore rupees from rupees one crore.
The amount of silver medal has been increased to rupees one crore from Rs. 75 lakh and for bronze medal winner to Rs. 50 lakhs from Rs. 25 lakhs. Similarly, for the Asian games or Commonwealth games, gold medallist will be given Rs. 20 lakhs, silver medallist Rs. 6 lakhs and winner of the bronze medal Rs. 10 lakhs.The state government has also enhanced the cash prize to the players for setting a new international record in any individual competition to Rs.10 lakhs from Rs. 8 lakhs whereas Rs. 10 lakhs from Rs. 6 lakhs to the players for setting a new record in any individual event in Commonwealth and Asian Games.Similarly, the cash prize has been increased to Rs. 5 lakh from Rs. 2 lakh to the players for setting a new national record in any individual event and rupees one lakh from Rs. 80,000 for sports persons participating in any international sports competition as a member of the Indian contingent.Likewise, in category-B, individual event in any senior national championship the first position cash award has been enhanced to Rs. 1.50 lakh from Rs. 80,000, for second position to Rs.75,000 from Rs. 40,000 and for third position award to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 24,000 whereas under the same category, team event in any senior national championship, the first position cash award has been enhanced to Rs. 50,000 per player from Rs. 16,000 and for second position to Rs.25,000 per player from Rs. 8,000.
Earlier no cash prize was given to the third-place team for this event but now the government has decided to give Rs. 15,000 cash prizes to each member of the team winning third place.The grant has also been enhanced to the various sports associations of the state with a view to encourage youth activities and sports culture. A grant to the state level sports Associations in category-A has been enhanced to Rs. 2 from Rs 1.25 lakh, in category-B to Rs 1.50 lakh from Rs 1 lakh and in category-C Rs. 1 lakh from Rs. 75,000. Similarly, the grant for District Sports Associations in category-A has been increased from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000, in category-B from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 25,000 and in category-C from Rs. 8,000 to Rs 20,000.Work on synthetic track at Saraswatinagar in Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly segment of Shimla district at the cost of Rs. 8 crore is under progress, which is likely to be ready within the next two years.The government has created 57 multipurpose outdoor and 3200 small sports grounds at the Panchayat level. Apart from giving 70 players per hostel sports facility, 500 players have so far been provided employment under the 3 percent sports quota so far. In order to promote sports activities among registered sports clubs, a provision has been made to provide a maximum grant of Rs. 50 thousand and minimum of Rs. 20 thousand.The efforts of the State Government are afoot to increase the diet money of the players, besides providing them transportation facilities.