State to have first Digital Sports Infra: Govindas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 07 2024: Youth Affairs and Sports minister Govindas Konthoujam informed the House that Manipur will have the country's first digital sports infrastructure which will allow prospective athletes to ascertain right from a young age the best and most compatible sports for them to pursue.

On Wednesday, opposition MLAs moved cut motion during discussion for Demand of Grants for Youth Affairs and Sports Department amounting to Rs 18,13,78,000, during the sixth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Responding to the cut motion, minister Govindas said the country's first digital sports infrastructure will be set up in the state in collaboration with Ministry of DoNER and Leander Paes Foundation to help children who want to become athletes in the future to identify the best sports for them to play.

In addition, steps will be taken up to set up a Centre of Excellence at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex under Khello India.

Previously, the state's coaches and mentors failed to meet the criteria and RR prescribed by the central government for the Centre.

As such, a request was made to relax the same, which was approved and thus, the Centre will soon be established.

He further informed that with the establishment of the National Sports Academy, efforts have been made to admit potential sportspersons from different districts to the Academy after conducting a talent hunt to identify the best sports discipline for them.

This will help encourage and develop sports persons in rural and remote areas.

Process is underway for the government to absorb the Academy, Govindas confided.

He also stated that the union government has sanctioned Rs 40 crore to construct a multi-level indoor stadium in addition to the sports complex at Khuman Lampak for which the state has been told to submit a DPR.

While the process for upgrading Khuman Lampak Sports Complex to PPP Mode has been slowed due to the ongoing conflict, the upgrading process will soon commence, Govindas stated.

Informing that other funds have been utilised for development of sports infrastructure on top of the budget allocated for the Department, the minister said efforts are on to implement 'one Village, One Playground' scheme in the state.

He also pointed out that the CM Sportspersons Livelihood Guarantee has been launched for the welfare of athletes after retirement.

Of the many private boxing academies in the state, Sarita Boxing Institute has received NEC funding for construction of a hostel, while Mary Kom Academy is being developed with funding from DoNer Ministry, he maintained.

Stating that the state government is trying to extend help to athletes based on their performances, Govindas said that for those who have won international and national medals, different posts are being reserved.

While deputy director and assistant director posts are reserved for Olympic medallists, other posts are reserved for other medallists.

But as the Sports Department alone cannot appoint all the posts, the athletes are given posts in other departments, apart from the quotas reserved for sportspersons during job recruitments.

Furthermore, the All-India Football Federation and technicians from outside the state are being consulted with regard to setting up of a Football academy in the state, he disclosed.

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