STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Minister for Sports and Technical Education Imran Raza Ansari on Saturday said the government has undertaken large scale measures to develop high level infrastructure in the state besides launching new initiatives including Skill Development Mission, Heritage Craft Course, Special Package for Development of Sports Infrastructure in J and K State, increasing the aegis of annual sports activities for systematic growth of these sectors.
Winding up the discussion on Demand of Grants for Sports and Technical Education, the Minister said the department has developed large scale infrastructure with special attention to growth of rural and far flung areas in the state.
Enumerating on various steps taken for development of sports, the minister said that a Special Package for Development of Sports Infrastructure in J and K State at Rs 200 crore has been approved by the Government of India. The package provides for renovation/upgradation of existing MAM Stadium Jammu & Bakshi Stadium Srinagar at cost of Rs 84 crore, he added.
Ansari said that during 2015-16 the implementation of centrally sponsored scheme ‘Khelo India’ was also taken up in the state with special attention to the rural breadths.
The minister further said that canvas of annual sports activities has also been expanded and as many as 46 sports disciplines (against 44 sports disciplines in 2015-16) have been included in the Annual sports calendar 2016-17 of the Department.
Coaching facilities in different sports discipline are also being made available to youth during 2016-17 at various district headquarters viz Srinagar, Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla & Bandipora, he added.
Asserting the need of engaging sports talent and faculty, the Minister said that 361 Physical Education Teachers have been appointed during the current year on the recommendations of Service Selection Board.
The Minister said that New Campus for Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal has been constructed at Gadoora Ganderbal at a cost of Rs 3039.04 lakh.
Further, during the last two years, Ansari said the Sports Council has developed 43 playfields in various parts of the State, including the construction of new indoor complex at MAM Stadium, Jammu, Indoor stadium at Akhnoor, Indoor hall at Polo ground west Srinagar and new Indoor complex at mini stadium Baramulla. The indoor halls at PVC Bana Singh R.S. Pora, and Udhampur have recently been completed, he said.
The Minister informed the house that in continuation with its efforts, the Department is hosting two more National School Games events in month of February, 2017 at Jammu in Cricket U-17 years (girls) and Tennis Cricket, U-19 years (boys).
While giving details about Rehbar-e-Khel, the Minister said there is demand for introduction of Rehbar-e-Khel in the State which can provide employment to the youth who have acquired degrees in Physical Education. “A proposal for introduction of Rehbar-e-Khel Scheme involving creation of 7311 posts of Physical Education Teachers have been formulated and is under active consideration of the Government,” he said. “The matter has been submitted to the Finance Department, as the scheme has huge financial implications.”
Detailing about the progressive steps constantly being taken up under the aegis of Technical Education Department, the Minister informed that Skill Development Mission has been launched in the State with experts already been roped in for skill gap identification and skill mapping.
The cut motions which were moved by the members were withdrawn after the satisfactory reply by the Minister.
Later, the House passed the grants of Education Department, for the year 2017-18, moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs135818.51 lakh with voice vote.
