Wednesday, 06 July 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
On the lines of the states like Kerala, Haryana and Odisha, the Uttarakhand government has decided to constitute a ‘sports development fund’. An order regarding this was given by the sports and youth welfare minister Rekha Arya while chairing a review meeting with the officers of the department. She directed the officers to study the policies of Kerala, Haryana and Odisha so that the sports department becomes financially strong and necessary resources available for the sportspersons. Under the plan funds would be made available from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and other resources. In the meeting the minister sought information about the progress of the announcements made by the chief minister including construction of stadiums. Arya said that the departments and the public representatives concerned should be informed about the technical issues regarding availability of land for the stadiums.
Expressing happiness that the Government Order (GO) for the sports scholarship has been issued, the minister said that the emerging sports-persons would benefit from the GO. She informed that the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami would formally launch the sports scholarship scheme on August 29 (Khel Diwas). A scholarship of Rs 1500 per month would be given to 150 youngsters (aged 8-14 years) of every district under the Chief Minister’s ‘emerging sportsperson promotion scheme’. It would help in developing sporting skills and provide support to nurture the sportspersons of the future.
In the meeting the minister curtly told the officers that they should release the GOs relating to all aspects of the New Sports Policy. When the minister was informed that many GOs are pending at the level of the finance department, the minister directed the secretary sports to interact with the Secretary finance on the issue.
Arya said that the sportspersons were given a horizontal reservation of four per cent in the government jobs but now the issue is pending in the court. She said that the officers have been directed to find ways in which this four per cent reservation can be revived.
The minister got furious when she came to know that the official website of the sports department has not been updated despite her orders. She directed the officers to update the website which would help the general public to get all the information about the department.
The additional principal secretary sports and youth welfare Abhinav Kumar, director sports G S Rawat, joint director S K Sarki, deputy director Manoj Kumar Sharma and others were present on the occasion.
