9 July:Minister of Youth Affairs and sports, Dr. M.S. Gill has urged the States to make concerted efforts to provide basic infrastructure at Panchayat level and has assured all possible Centre’s financial support for this purpose. Inaugurating the conference of the State Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports here today, Dr. Gill emphasised for promotion of sports at grassroot level as universalisation of sports cannot be achieved without adequate thrust on development of sports at Panchayat level.
He said that Government had already decided to provide one time seed capital to each panchayat and asked the States to send proposals to avail the benefits of the centrally sponsored scheme.
The Minister also apprised the participants about the various initiatives taken by the Central Government recently which include enhancing the pension and other incentives for outstanding sports person.
The day long conference is being attended by Ministers from States and senior officers from various concerned Ministries. The participants will be deliberating on issues relating to promotion of sports activities and development of youth. Some of the major isues relating to sports which would be deliberated upon include The Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), use of sport infrastructure, role of Sports Authority of India and draft schemes for promotion of sports and games in schools, colleges and universities, sports and games for disabled and National Physical Fitness Programme (NPFP). The major issues relating to Youth Affairs which would be deliberated upon include the review of Youth Hostel Scheme, National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and launching of scheme of – National Programme for youth and Adolescent development (NPYAD).