Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 21: Observing that Jammu and Kashmir has been bestowed by nature with beautiful lakes and rivers, N N Vohra, Governor, today stressed the crucial importance of promoting watermanship among youth and involving them in varied water sports activities to optimally benefit from nature’s bounty.
The Governor was addressing a meeting convened by him at Raj Bhavan here today with a view to promote watermanship activities among the youth of the State. In this context, he referred to a suggestion received from a former Naval Chief for exploring the possibilities of J&K youth being exposed to watermanship and provided opportunities for training in marine sports and related skills in the water bodies of the State.
The Governor observed that youth of the State are highly talented and if provided enabling opportunities they can excel in various sports and games at the national and international levels. He observed that the State Youth Services and Sports Department, State Sports Council, Naval Wing of the J&K Directorate of NCC, University of Kashmir and other concerned agencies need to consider jointly organizing water sports activities like swimming, sailing, rowing, boating, kayaking and canoeing and regular competitions in these sports disciplines for the boys and girls of the State. He added that Dal and Mansar lakes and other water bodies provide ideal locations for the promotion of aquatic sports and inculcation of the spirit of adventure among the youth.
At Governor’s request, R S Chib, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, agreed to convene an early meeting with officers of all concerned departments and agencies to chalk out a detailed Action Plan for bringing the promotion of water based sports activities in the State under one umbrella, for optimum utilization of available resources and the best possible outcomes.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chib has served Advisory Committee of NCC for three years.
Referring to the need for bringing a much larger number of youth under the ambit of NCC, the Governor, who is Chancellor of the Kashmir and Jammu Universities, stressed the need for Senior Wings of NCC being established in institutions of higher learning in the State to provide the youth ample opportunities of growth in all endeavours of human activity. In this context, he particularly urged Prof. Mrs. Neelofar Khan, Dean Students Welfare in Kashmir University, to consider urgent initiatives to establish an NCC Sr. Division in the University.
Speaking on the occasion, R S Chib, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, informed the Governor in detail about the initiatives which are already being taken for the promotion of water sports in the State and the infrastructure and equipment presently available for this purpose. He also gave details of the water sports events organized in the State in the past and the one planned for September this year in Dal Lake.
Captain Aziz Lone, Naval Officer, NCC, gave a resume of the water-based activities being undertaken by the NCC in the State. He said that presently there are 1600 NCC Naval Wing Cadets in the State and also mentioned the constraints being faced by the Naval Wing.
Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Vinod Koul, Secretary, Youth Services and Sports; Gazzanfar Hussain, Secretary, Higher Education; J P Singh, Director, Youth Services and Sports; Dalip Thussu, Secretary, J&K State Sports Council; Col. P K Bhatia, Training Officer, NCC; and Prof. Neelofar Khan, Dean, Students Welfare, University of Kashmir, participated in the meeting.
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