332 Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) Centres would be set up in the State in the near future by spending Rs. 4.02,40,000. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister at Hamirpur today.
Chief Minister said that with a view to give boost to sports activities in the rural areas PYKKA programme was under implementation with the financial assistance of the Government of India. He said that quality infrastructure was being created at village level to facilitate sports activities to the rural youth. He said that recently 324 more PYKKA centres had been sanctioned for the state which included 324 at Panchayat level and 8 at block level. He said that the scheme had successfully been implemented in the State as 648 panchayats and 16 blocks had already been covered during the preceding two financial years and an amount of Rs. 8,78,76,000 were spent over the creation of basic amenities in the rural areas of the state.
Prof. Dhumal said that with the construction of the 332 more centres, the total number of PYKKA centres in the State would be 996 and more such centres had been proposed to be opened in the left out gram panchayats of the state in a phased manner. He said that there was no dearth of talented youth in the State and the PYKKA centres would polish rural talents to exhibit their skills at national and international level to earn laurels to the state and the country. He said that the State was poised to emerge a favourite destination to host national and international sports events as world class sports infrastructure was being created in the State.
Chief Minister further revealed that Rs. 45.25 lakhs would be spent over preservation of the heritage status of the universally known Ice Skating Rink at Shimla to facilitate skators with more days to skate in the rink. He said that the Rink had also been a favourite destination to the tourists visiting Shimla from different
parts of the world, especially during the winter season when the ice skating was played. He said that efforts would be made to create necessary required facilities to the ice skators to practice the game for maximum number of days with additional budgetary provisions. He said that the rink would thereby be contributing significantly towards preparation of players to compete at national and international level ice skating events. He said that the State had vast potential for winter games and National Level Atal Behari Vajpayee Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, with headquarters at Manali, was imparting training in various winter sports to the local youth which had made them eligible to participate in various national and international level events, especially in Winter Olympics taking place in different parts of the world.