The Hindu : 'States must chip in for sports development'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

'States must chip in for sports development'

By Our Staff Reporter

NAGERCOIL JAN. 17. Though the Centre was committed to providing the wherewithal for improving sporting activity across the country, participation of State Governments was essential to create overall growth, the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Vikram Verma, said today.

Talking to reporters at Kanyakumari near here, Mr. Verma said the Government enhanced the department's budgetary allocation from about Rs.450 crores in the 9th plan to Rs.1,600 crores in the 10th plan and was exploring means to increase the sum by at least five times. About Rs.200 crores had been earmarked in the 10th plan for establishing infrastructural facilities in the country and another Rs.312 crores earmarked for improving infrastructure in States.

Further development depended on the State Governments promoting sporting activities with cent per cent involvement. They could, for instance, submit proposals on activities to be promoted, training centres or hostels and the extent of matching grant they could provide. The Centre would provide 25 per cent of the sum for three years in addition to a one-time grant, he said.

Also envisaged in the 10th plan was the establishment of a sports academy in each State and this too required the involvement of the State Government concerned and private promoters too.

India would play against Pakistan in the World Cup cricket match, but not participate in matches against that country in Dubai or Canada, he said.

Mr. Verma said the Centre was in the process of identifying a location to hold the 2012 Olympics. Already the Andhra Pradesh Government had come forward and offered its services to the Centre.

The Tamil Nadu Government has handed over about 10.3 hectares of land to the Central Government for establishing the Sports sub-centre through the Sports Authority of India at an outlay of Rs.10 crores.

Already the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has been directed to start the initial work such as putting up a peripheral fence, sprucing up the ground, partial electrification and constructing hostels to accommodate about 100 students. The Centre has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 2 crores for this.

The centre would provide comprehensive residential training to 100 students, comprising 50 girls and an equal number of boys, selected through State and national championship meet, in several sporting disciplines such as hockey, volleyball, basket ball, kabaddi, athletics, football and swimming. The training will be on par with international standards and to ensure this, the Centre had signed an agreement with 47 coaches from several foreign countries and they would be joined by the Indian coaches to provide the required training, Mr. Verma said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

'BJP ties with DMK good'

'States must chip in for sports development'

All set for exclusive women commando force

5 critically injured in Alanganallur `jallikattu'

Marginal decline in IMR

No meeting with Azhagiri

Attractive VRS coming for busmen

CM to inaugurate Veeranam project works on Feb. 2

Expedite appointment of HC judges: DK

LPG tanker operators call off strike

Silent suffering is the Dalit lot at Chinnakannanur

Cauvery water yet to reach Mettur

Panel to give shape to 'knowledge society' concept