Construction firm told to speed up NSU work
States' support needed in making India a global sports house: Anurag
Source: Chronicle News Service / PIB

Imphal, April 25 2023: Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Anurag Thakur, on Tuesday inspected the ongoing construction work of the new campus of National Sports University at Koutruk in the outskirts of Imphal and directed the construction company to speed up the process.

Anurag Thakur visited the construction site in Imphal West district along with state's Youth Affairs and Sports minister Govindas Konthoujam and other high-ranking officials of the central and state governments.

The minister also chaired a review meeting there during which he and officials of the YAS were briefed by the officials of the agencies handling the construction of the permanent campus.

NBCC India Ltd, a central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, is the work agency of the project.

Taking to Twitter later, Thakur wrote: "Got up really early today for a site visit of the only National Sports University of India which is under construction in Imphal, Manipur.

The contribution of Northeast region to our sporting history is significant and it is fitting that such a University should be in this part of the country.

It is the commitment of PM Narendra Modi towards the development of northeast and our youth that through such initiatives new direction is given to our budding athletes to go out and conquer the world.

I reiterate that talent of our Indian youth will be fully supported at each stage" .

The National Sports University is India's first full-fledged sports university of international standard.

For the last five years, the classes and other activities are being conducted from a temporary centre located at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.

The centre in 2014 allocated Rs 100 crore in the Union Budget 2014-15 for setting up of the National Sports University.

The foundation stone for the construction of the university in the 325-acre campus was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 16, 2018.The estimated cost of the project is Rs 900 crore.

Anurag Thakur also stressed on the need for support and cooperation of the states to make India a power house of sports, in his concluding remark at the two-day Chintan Shivir of Youth Affairs and Sports Ministers of States/Union Territories.

The two-day conference participated by YAS ministers of states and union territories across the country kicked off on Monday and concluded on Tuesday at the City Convention Centre, Palace Compound in Imphal East district.

The conference kicked off with a virtual address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

"You have come here taking time out of your valuable time.

The outcome of the discussion in these two days will be im -mensely helpful in developing India's sports," the union minister said.

While reminding the delegates that India is striving to become a global powerhouse of sports achieving which en tails the support and cooperation of each state and uniop territories, he reiterated that development of sports of the country lies with the states and union territories while asserting that sports is a state subject and the responsibility for development of sports rests with the state and union territory governments.

Many states have shown this in action by producing players of international repute and other states can also take steps for the development of sports, the minister stressed, adding that states can adopt the models being applied by states advanced in the held.

The conference held here has given an opportunity to share the models, he said.

Further stating that the central government is supplementing the state's efforts in this regard, he informed that the sports ministry has formulated many schemes to promote sports in the country, which the states should avail.

With regard to the National Sports University (NSU), he said the country's only sports varsity is tying up with international sports bodies in various aspects such as sports science, technology and management.

The NSU was set up as a specialised university to promote sports education in the areas of sports sciences, sports technology, sports management and sports coaching, besides functioning as the nation al training centre for select sports disciplines by adopting best international practices, he said.

Thakur added that the NSU is also envisaged as an apex institution for advanced study and imparting training in physical education.

YAS ministers Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Punjab), Bimal Borah (Assam), Kunga Nima Lepcha (Sikkim) and sports secretary (Ministry of Sports) Sujata Chaturvedi attended the opening session of the conference.

During the technical session on the last day of the conference, the delegates discussed "Issues and challenges in sports governance" and "Improving engagement among stakeholders in the sports sector" with papers on the topics presented by resource persons.

Officials of the Indian Olympic Association, All India Football Federation and Indian Rugby Football Union, besides officials of Kerala and Haryana were the resource persons of the topic "Issues and challenges in sports governance" .

It was moderated by the secretary of the ministry of YAS.

Then an open house discussion followed during which the YAS ministers from various states shared their opinions and suggestions.

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