Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought fulsome support and cooperation from the Union government to eradicate the drug menace from the state through the promotion of Sports to channelize the unbounded energy of the youth in a positive manner.
The Chief Minister, who called on the Union Minister of State for Sports Mr. Sarbnanda Sonowal at his office in Shastri Bhawan here this afternoon, impressed upon him to generously help the state in combating the curse of drugs by funding Sports projects and related infra structure. Mr. Badal apprised the Union Minister that the state government was already making strenuous efforts for promoting sports to check drug addiction in the state but this daunting task could not be accomplished without adequate support of the Union government. He reminded Mr. Sonowal that Punjab has a glorious legacy of producing ace sportspersons in the country and this could be further carried on if the Government of India (GoI) pays special attention for encouraging sports in the state.
Flagging up another issue, the Chief Minister asked Mr. Sonowal to establish Center of Excellence in Hockey at Jalandhar and that of Football in Mahilpur (Hoshiarpur), as both these places have produced several renowned players of these games and were known as the nurseries of Hockey and Football players. Mr. Badal said that with the setting up of these centers of excellence both Hockey and Football would get a major fillip, which would be very helpful for the country in making a mark in both these games. He also underscored the need for setting up Center of Excellence for Martial Arts in Sri Anandpur Sahib, so that the traditional games of Punjab could get a big boost.
Likewise, the Chief Minister urged Mr. Sonowal to revive the pristine glory of National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala, which have been eroded due to the callous attitude of the previous Union government over a period of several years. He apprised the Union Minister that the NIS was once the best Sports institute across the country that has produced several distinguished players who have brought laurels for the country adding that the need of the hour was to further strengthen this premier institute so that the glorious legacy of producing world class players from the region could be carried on. Mr. Badal also asked the Union Minister to depute some foreign coaches to the state so that world class training facilities could be provided to the budding players of the region.
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister, Mr. Sonowal, while lauding the efforts made by state government to check the menace of drugs, assured him that the Union Government would make every effort to promote sports in the state so as to wipe out the curse of drug addiction from Punjab. He also said that the NIS, Patiala was the leading institute of sports in the country and now the Union government was adding a zing to it by expediting the process to open National Institute of Sports Coaching in it at a cost of Rs 200 crore. The Union Minister also said that the GoI would soon deploy best foreign coaches to the state for imparting training the budding Players so that they could excel in sports.On the personal invitation of the Chief Minister, Mr. Sonowal also agreed to visit state especially the NIS once the Parliament session was over.The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Mr. SK Sandhu and Secretary Sports Mr. KS Pannu. On the occasion Director General of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Mr. GG Thompson was also present.