Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the state-of-the-art Baba Jitto Indoor Stadium at Marh and Indoor Sports Stadium at Jourian, Akhnoor. Dedicating the sports facilities to the youth, the Lieutenant Governor said that new indoor Sports Stadiums, equipped with modern shooting ranges and versatile indoor courts, are designed to inspire excellence and cultivate the champions of tomorrow.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Jammu & Kashmir is emerging as a sports powerhouse where world-class facilities are no longer restricted to major cities but are reaching the grassroots.
He also interacted with the youth of Marh and Akhnoor through virtual medium and reiterated his commitment to ensure inclusivity in sports development and encourage greater participation among young aspirants. The Lieutenant Governor also called upon all sections of society, particularly women and the youth to lead the movement for a 'Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir'.
The Lieutenant Governor urged citizens to report substance abuse and actively support the rehabilitation of victims. He said the police and civil administration are working tirelessly to dismantle the drug smuggling network. The indoor sports stadiums, developed by District Administration Jammu in collaboration with HDFC Bank under its CSR initiative, are equipped with world-class amenities.
These includes a modern rifle shooting range, top-quality badminton and table tennis courts, dedicated rooms for indoor games such as carrom and chess, and a well-furnished reading room for the youth and locals. Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Dr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Shri Vidhu Shekar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu and representatives of HDFC Bank attended the inaugural ceremony at Lok Bhavan.
Shri Surinder Bhagat, Member of Legislative Assembly Marh; Shri Mohan Lal Bhagat, Member of Legislative Assembly Akhnoor, senior officials, prominent citizens and locals from Marh and Jourian also joined through virtual mode.