Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sep 26: The state government has decided to accord the status of state sport to Kambala, the traditional folk sport of Karnataka, and an official announcement in this regard will be made soon. With this recognition, Kambala will achieve yet another milestone.
Once the state government officially declares Kambala as a state sport, it will become eligible to receive the same facilities and benefits provided to other recognized sports by the State Sports Authority. Sources revealed that chief minister Siddaramaiah has already given his consent for according the status.
While the recognition process has reached its final stage, the government has also finalized the list of office bearers for the Kambala Association. The president of the Kambala Committee will head the association, while a 13-member team comprising honorary advisors and members has also been finalized.
The establishment of the Kambala Association will ensure additional encouragement, special grants, and facilities for runners, buffalo owners, and other stakeholders. The government is preparing the bylaws for the association.
Until now, the absence of a federation for Kambala posed certain technical hurdles in obtaining recognition. To address this, the Kambala Federation has also been constituted. District Kambala Committee president Belapu Deviprasad Shetty will serve as the president of the federation, while SCDCC Bank president Dr M N Rajendra Kumar and MRG Group chairman Prakash Shetty have been appointed as honorary presidents.
The deputy commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts will be permanent members, along with the MPs representing these districts. Senior members Bhaskar Kotian, Gunapala Kadamba, Rohith Hegde (Ermal), Naveenchandra Alva, Prashanth Kajava, and Sukumar Shetty have been nominated as members.
The state government has released Rs 40 lac for Kambala in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Of this, Rs 8 lac has been allocated to four Kambalas in Udupi district, and Rs 34 lac to 19 Kambalas in Dakshina Kannada district. The Kambala Committee decided on this allocation, and the government has approved it.
District Kambala Committee president Belapu Deviprasad Shetty expressed happiness, stating that chief minister Siddaramaiah’s personal interest in recognizing Kambala as a state sport is a matter of pride for enthusiasts. He added that with the finalization of the Kambala Association’s list, an official announcement will follow soon, and the sport is set to receive greater encouragement, cooperation, and grants from the government.