The Hindu : New Delhi News : JNU plans to upgrade sports facilities

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Friday, Sep 17, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

JNU plans to upgrade sports facilities

By Lakshmi B.Ghosh

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 16. It may be an institution known for its academic brilliance, but Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) seems to be gearing up for a change of image. The University now wants its students to get into the action mode and nothing less than being a part of the next Commonwealth Games seems to be on its agenda.

Ironic as it may seem, even as students on the campus have been agitating to demand `basic' sports facilities, JNU authorities say they have grand plans for the campus. At a recent meeting with the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sunil Dutt, the JNU administration presented a proposal for upgradation of the sports facilities on the campus for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

"We have put forward the proposal for upgradation of sports facilities, specially in view of the Commonwealth Games. Since the campus is located in a strategic area that is well connected to all the major regions of the city, we have proposed that the Ministry help upgrade the sports facilities on the campus and make use of them during the games,'' said the JNU Rector, Balveer Arora.

While the University seems to have started in time to pitch in for the big games, it would eventually depend on how the Ministry deals with the proposal. With students on a hunger strike in support of their demands for better sports facilities and other issues, University authorities say work has already been started to help improve the facilities on the campus.

While work on the badminton and basketball courts has begun, University authorities said sports facilities in the Mahi Mandvi hostel were also being upgraded. The University has also cleared a grant of Rs. 6 lakhs for the University gymnasium and yoga facility.

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