Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated the four day Women North Zone Inter University Kabaddi Championship at Paddal Ground in district Mandi today.While addressing on the occasion the Chief Minister said that this event would provide a appropriate platform to the Kabaddi players of different states and they would get an opportunity to participate in the National and Asian games.He said that a New Sports Policy would be implemented in the state to promote sports, encourage talented youth and develop the sports infrastructure, which would benefit the players in a big way.He said that the State Government is making efforts to nurture sports talent in the State as well as to give importance to such activities at the village level and encourage women participation.
The Chief Minister said that under Mukhyamantri Yuva Khel Protsahan Yojna one playing field has been constructed in each assembly segment at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. Rs. 1032.91 lakh have been spent under this scheme during the last four years. He said that to provide employment to excellent sportspersons a provision of three percent reservation has been made by the state government, under which 220 players excelling in different sports activities were provided employment in various departments, corporations and boards. He said that Rs 7.39 crore have been spent on organizing various sports activities in the state during this period. Rs.76.81 crore were spent for creating modern sports infrastructure in the state and Rs.4.59 crore were spent for mobilizing additional facilities and infrastructure, he added.
He lauded the players of the state who had brought laurels to the state at the national and international level in various sports activities. He exhorted the youth to take advantage of the opportunities available in the sports sector for their bright career and all round development of their personality.Principal Vallabh Government Post Graduate Collage Y.P. Sharma felicitated the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. Program coordinator Dr. Sunil Sen gave detailed information about the championship. He said that about 400 girl students from 32 universities of the country are participating in this championship.MLA Anil Sharma, Rakesh Jamwal, Inder Singh Gandhi, Jawahar Thakur, Vice President, State Red Cross Society Dr. Sadhna Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary, Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri, Mayor Municipal Corporation Mandi Dipali Jaswal, Deputy Mayor, Councillors, Vice Chancellor Cluster University CL. Chandan, office bearers of BJP, SDM Sadar, Ritika Jindal and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.