Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, today chaired a meeting of members of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Associations to discuss roadmap for development of potential games and sports infrastructure in the Union Territory besides highlighting role of sports associations in this regard.Principal Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department (YSS), Alok Kumar besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.Addressing the meeting, Advisor said the main objective of this exclusive interaction with sports associations was to chalk out and discuss action plan for further streamlining of sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. ‘Our only motive is to facilitate players of different games with basic and standard facilities enabling them bring laurels for JKUT at national as well as international level’, he asserted.Advisor highlighted the significant role being played by sports associations in nurturing and sharpening up sports talent among the budding players. He stressed upon the representatives of different Associations to expand their areas of activities to rural areas by conducting talent hunt camps to find out natural sports skills among youth. He said that Associations should go for conducting national level events in the UT which would immensely facilitate promotion of J&K as an ideal destination for holding game events adding that enhanced sports infrastructure has been developed here over the last couple of years. Advisor Farooq Khan underlined the need for registration of all the potential sports associations with Sports Council as per guidelines so that financial assistance by the government could reach to genuine sports persons. He exhorted upon the Associations, who have not conducted their elections and other mandatory requirements, should act promptly so that they are given requisite funds and their schedule of activities do not suffer because of lack of financial needs.
During the interactive sessions, Principal Secretary expressed optimism that today's meeting will go a long way in further strengthening coordination between the government, sports council and the sports associations for enhanced outcome. ‘The government is committed to provide every possible help to the associations for promotion of sports culture and infrastructure as well in the UT’, he maintained.Earlier, various sports associations highlighted their issues and demands regarding availability of coaches, playgrounds, tennis courts, medical facilities, physiotherapists, transportation, boarding and lodging, hostel facilities for trainee players, annual fitness test of coaches, sports scholarship for outstanding players and related issues and concerns.Responding to issues raised by associations, Advisor Khan assured that all their genuine demands would be examined for an early redressal.He said that Jammu and Kashmir would soon be coming up with a comprehensive sports policy which will be in conformity with the national sports policy which will address the long pending demands and requirements of all the sports persons. Besides, general body of Sports Council will soon be reconstituted which will include non official members of International repute to provide further impetus to sports culture in the Union Territory.The representatives of Associations thanked Advisor Khan for providing an opportunity to them to raise their issues and concerns besides making suggestions.Among others present in the meeting were Secretary Sports Council J&K, Nazhut Gul besides Presidents, General Secretaries of nearly 40 Sports Association of Jammu and Kashmir.