LA Panel recommends enhancement in budget allocation for YS&S Department

SRINAGAR: The Committee on Estimates of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which met here under the chairmanship of MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Wednesday directed the Commissioner Secretary Youth Services & Sports (YSS) Department to complete all ongoing works on sports stadiums across the State within their stipulated timeframes.

            The Committee discussed the functioning of the Youth Services & Sports and the activities of the Sports Council in the State and directed for completing all ongoing works on existing infrastructure before taking up new works.

           Committee members including Mubarak Gul, Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar, Altaf Ahmed Wani, R S Pathania and Dr. Shehnaz Ganai attended the meeting and gave their suggestions to make the Department more active and result-oriented.

            Commissioner Secretary YS&S, Hilal Ahmed Parray, and Director Sports, Sheikh Fayaz, briefed the Committee about the functioning of the Department. He also briefed the Committee about steps being taken to upgrade the sports infrastructure in the State.

            The Committee observed that the budget allocation of YS&S is insufficient and recommended that the same be enhanced. It was decided that a committee be formed which shall project the requirements of the Department before the concerned quarters.

            The meeting was informed that some 7311 schools are without Physical Teachers and was urged to take up issue with concerned quarter.

            The Committee was also informed that face-lifting and upgradation works of Bakshi Stadium Srinagar have already been taken in hand whereas the upgradation work of M A Stadium Jammu will be started soon. It was also said that works on construction of 22 indoor and outdoor stadiums across all districts are going on full-paced.

Members of the Committee stressed upon the concerned authorities that sports infrastructure in the rural areas of the State be upgraded as per modern requirements.

The Committee also directed for submitting a detailed report on “Khelo India” scheme, the status of tendering process, physical status, district-wise details of events organized by the Department, cash management infrastructure and mode of payment.

            It also stressed on constituting district-level monitoring committee with the consultation of experts for selection of sports persons for participation in different events organized by the Department at state and national levels.

Secretary Legislative Assembly, M R Singh, Director Finance YSS besides other senior officers of YSS and Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting.