Only Rs 8.80 cr obtained under Khelo India Scheme since 2016-17
Youngsters remain deprived of much-needed facilities
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 4: There is no end to the Jammu and Kashmir’s ‘dismal’ performance in the creation of sports infrastructure under Khelo India Scheme of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as a result of which financial assistance of merely Rs 8.80 crore has been given to the erstwhile State since 2016-17. This has deprived vast population of youngsters of the much-needed facilities to hone their skills in different sports.
The promotion of sports is primarily the responsibility of State/Union Territory Governments but the Central Government is supplementing their efforts and Khelo India is among the various schemes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in this regard.
The Khelo India, an athlete centric scheme is being implemented since 2016-17 and Union Ministry is liberally providing financial assistance to the States/UTs under this scheme for creation of sports infrastructure. However, Jammu and Kashmir has failed to obtain optimum benefit of this scheme till date.
This can be gauged from the figures of the Union Ministry of Youth Services and Sports, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR. These figures once again paint dismal performance of the concerned authorities of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir vis-à-vis creation of infrastructure.
During the financial year 2016-17, erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir obtained financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1.80 crore from the Union Ministry, the Utilization Certificates of which have not been furnished till date. Similarly, an amount of Rs one crore was obtained from the Union Ministry under Khelo India Scheme during 2017-18 financial year and Utilization Certificates of this amount are yet to be submitted to the concerned authorities of the Ministry.
Due to inordinate delay in submission of Utilization Certificates the Union Ministry preferred not to give any assistance to Jammu and Kashmir during 2018-19 but during the current financial year (2019-20) an amount of Rs 6 crore has been released up to October 30, 2019.
It is pertinent to mention here that the administration of J&K has submitted nine proposals to the Union Ministry for creation of sports infrastructure under Khelo India Scheme. These proposals include construction of multipurpose sports hall at Shalnar in Budgam district; construction of synthetic turf football ground at Sopore in Baramulla; construction of synthetic turf football ground at Pandithpora Langet in Kupwara; development of Kashmir international multipurpose sports complex at Awantipora; development of Tawi view international multipurpose sports complex at Jammu; construction of synthetic athletic track at Islamic University of Science and Technology Awantipora in Pulwama; construction of synthetic athletic track at District Headquarter Bandipora; construction of synthetic hockey field K K Hakku Hockey stadium Jammu and construction of synthetic hockey field at Pologround Srinagar.
Of the four sanctioned projects, the Union Ministry has shown the progress on three projects as ‘nil’ while as progress of fourth project has been reflected between one and 25%.
“Due to dilly-dallying approach of the concerned authorities in the execution of projects the youngsters have remained deprived of the much needed facilities”, sources said, adding “the creation of sports infrastructure particularly in the districts of Kashmir valley like Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora assumes much importance as the same would help in channelizing the energy of youngsters towards positive direction”.
When contacted, Administrative Secretary of Youth Services and Sports Sarmad Hafiz said, “three projects—construction of synthetic hockey field at K K Hakku Hockey Stadium Jammu, construction of synthetic hockey field at Pologround in Srinagar and construction of synthetic athletic track at Bandipora are at the stage of allotment and work will begin thereafter”.
“Some other proposals under Khelo India Scheme are pending with the Union Ministry for clearance”, he said, adding “we are leaving no stone unturned to gear up the works on the already sanctioned projects and complete the same as early as possible”.
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