Ajay Raina
KATHUA, Jan 23: The lackadaisical attitude of the officers at the helm of affairs of Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) has plunged the future of thousands of sportspersons in the Kathua district into darkness.
Though district Kathua has been divided into 12 zones by DYSS for promotion of sports, there is not even a single playfield in any of the zones, where the youngsters can play or practice their desired games.
The sportsmen are up in arms against the department for its failure to establish even a single sports field in the district which has shattered the dreams of the sportspersons from exhibiting their talent in various games on the national and international platforms.
“At a time when several sports activities are taking place across the State, the players of Kathua district aren’t able to play outdoor games due to the lack of playgrounds”, official sources told the Excelsior.
Sources stated that there are 12 zones in the Kathua district including Marheen, Salan, Barnoti, Kathua, Lakhanpur, Mahanpur, Bhaddu, Billawar, Lohai Malhar, Bani and Basholi, but they lack playfields. Due to non-availability of playing fields, the sportspersons across the district are losing their charm towards sports, sources added.
The DYSS, which is the authorized body to conduct the tournaments at zone, district, State and block levels, has to take permission for organizing different tournaments in Sports Stadium from J&K State Sports Council, sources said.
“The lone Kathua Sports Stadium is catering to the needs of the thousands of sportspersons across 12 zones of the district, which is clearly an evidence of lethargic approach of DYSS towards the players vis-à-vis promotion of games at block and zones levels”, sources added.
Apart from playing fields, there is no hostel facility for the players, who come to the district to participate in various tournaments to be conducted by DYSS at block, zone, district and State levels, sources said, adding that in the tournaments organized by the department, there is always less participation from the players outside the district and just to take credit, the departmental officers often give hype to such so-called tournaments.
The DYSS higher-ups never paid heed towards the problems being faced by budding sportspersons in the district, sources said, adding that the players of the district were seen various times playing on roads, streets or in grazing fields, which is a big question mark on the working of the department towards encouraging the players by establishing play-fields at zone and block levels.
The officials of DYSS identified the land for the construction of sports stadium and youth hostel but unfortunately it was not falling under the criteria fixed by Union Government for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan Scheme. So the proposal was rejected and the department did not bother to identify the land to full fill the norms of the scheme, sources said.
“Football is my favourite game but unfortunately there is no proper place near my residence where I can play”, says a football player from tehsil Bani on the condition of anonymity. Most of the parents and even mine do not allow playing in the streets, roads and in grazing field which according to them can be dangerous”, he added.
He stated that the situation forces them to use green areas and residential streets as playgrounds, which create problems for the residents.
He said the concerned department should take up this matter seriously otherwise in the time to come, the district will fail to produce talented players.
“The youth are very much enthusiastic about various games including hockey, football and cricket, but lack of playgrounds at zonal level has dampen their spirit towards sports”, the locals said adding that despite repeated pleas to the concerned department and district administration, no playgrounds have been established so far in any of the zones in the district, which is very awful.
The youth of the district, according to the locals have only one choice—Kathua Sports Stadium, which is being maintained by J&K State Sports Council. A player residing in far-flung area of the district cannot afford to practice his/her game by visiting the sports stadium regularly, which shatters his/her dream of taking part in the sports, they added.
“We are facing immense problems in the absence of playgrounds. We have only one sports stadium in which all the games are played”, a sportsperson said adding that with many teams playing simultaneously on this single ground there have been incidents wherein players sustained injuries.
“We want to conduct Cricket, Hockey, Badminton, Football and other sports tournaments so as to boost our confidence level, but due to lack of playing fields, we are not able to do so”, senior players said.
“We hope that the concerned authorities would take note of the issue and come forward to construct playing fields in each zone of the district for the sake of sportsmen and promotion of sports in the district”, they added.
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