New Delhi, August 03 2009: Union Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Dr M..SGill called upon the states to avail themselves of maximum assistance under Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA ) and also to provide the higher budgetary support to sport in their respective state budgets.

He was addressing the Conference of the State Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports held at Vigyan Bhavan here today.

Dr Gill also highlighted the recent initiatives taken by the Government of India to recognise and reward excellence in sport and provide assistance to states for the promotion of Sports for All.

Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports was also attended the conference.

Participating at the Conference, Manipur Youth affairs and Sports Minister Nongthombam Biren drew the attention of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for increase of the grant of Rs one lakh for construction of playground in the North east States and other hilly states.

In the hill areas, playgrounds were constructed after leveling the land and as such it incurred huge expenses.

Reacting on Manipur Sports Minister's suggestion, Union Minister of Sports Dr M..SGill assured the conference that he would review for increase of grant amount for hilly states.

Manipur Sports Minister also suggested for formation of district Level committee comprising of Panchayat members headed by the Deputy Commissioner for effective implementation of PYKKA in Manipur.

At the outset of his speech, Minister Biren asked to all the Ministers to share the joy of the people of Manipur hardly 25 lakh population when the two pugilists Marykom and Laishram Sarita from Manipur were selected for the country's highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award respectively for the year 2009.When the Manipur Minister made the statement, all the participants in the Conference thumped the table and hailed the sportpersons of Manipur.

Reacting on Minister Biren's statement, Dr M.S.Gil said Marykom deserved the Khel Ratna Award.

Minister Biren said that Manipur had so far produced nine Olympians, two Khel Ratna Awardees and nine Arjuna awardees.

Highlighting the achievements made by the sports persons from Manipur in the national and international arena, Minister Biren urged the Union Ministry of Sports to pay a special attention towards the development of sports in Manipur.

Manipur Sports Minister welcomed the initiative of setting up the National Playing Field Association of India and stated that similar body in the State would be established as and when instructed.

He stated that Manipur had 200 playgrounds constructed in the last five years under the schemes of the North Eastern Council and there was a proposal in the state budget for construction of another 500 playgrounds in the state.

Besides the construction of the playgrounds, maintenance and improvement of the grounds in national and international standard were highly essential, he added and asked the Ministry to provide fund for the improvement of the grounds.

Referring to the formation of National Youth Corps, Manipur Minister stated that the Scheme of Youth Volunteer Corps similar to the National Youth Corps was introduced in Manipur in the year 1994 by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of Manipur with an objective to maintain peace and harmony in the State and at the same time to render voluntary service at the time of natural or accidental disaster.

Under the scheme, 875 volunteers representing every Village Youth Centre were selected and imparted training.

The scheme was later discontinued due to paucity of fund.

Manipur Minister proposed the Centre to provide required fund to the State so that the scheme could be revived in Manipur for meaningful and purposeful utilization of the youth force in Manipur.

.LLakher, Commissioner (YAS), Manipur and Bobby Waikhom, Director (YAS) Manipur also took part in the conference.

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