Imphal, September 07, 2010: Manipur Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Nongthombam Biren urged upon the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to raise the amount of grant for Playground Development in hill areas to at least Rs.5 lakhs from the present proposed amount of Rs 2 lakhs.

He said that Rs 2 lakhs would be quite inadequate especially for the North Eastern States.

Participating in the Conference of State Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports chaired by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr..M.SGill held at Vigyan Bhavan , Maulana Azad Road here today, Minister Biren said that under PYKKA scheme, Manipur has 79 centres covering 176 villages and a Master Action Plan had been prepared to cover all the remaining villages in Manipur within five years.

He informed those present at the conference that the process for setting up the State Playing Fields Association was under way in Manipur in line of the national Playing Fields Association.

Welcoming the proposed Scheme of Assistance for Creation of Urban Sports Infrastructures to be implemented by the Government of India, he proposed to the Centre for opening of new Sports Authority India (SAI) centres at the five hill districts of Manipur.

He also reminded for renovation of existing SAI buildings in Manipur.

Minister Biren expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for conferring awards to two sports personalities from Manipur, Dronacharya award for L.Ibomcha Singh, Boxing Coach and Dhyanchand award for L.Anita Chanu, Weightlifting Coach in the National Sports Day recently.

He also informed that Manipur had conducted the Queen's Baton Relay of the Commonwealth Games 2010 on July 27 successfully with mass support from the public.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Biren urged upon the Union Ministry to speed up construction of youth hostels at Churachandpur and Thoubal .

He informed that Manipur has prepared a draft State Youth Policy and a seminar was held on the draft policy some months back.

He said that another workshop on the draft policy would be held on September 13 and 14 for final approval of the State Youth Policy. L Lakher IAS, Commissioner (YAS) accompanied the Minister (YAS) in the conference.

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