From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Sep 15: The union government has provided a grant of Rs 25 crore to the state government for the promotion of various sports activities in rural parts of the state.
The Rs 25 crore grant from the Centre has been split into Rs 10 crore for laying hockey turf and synthetic turf for athletics and Rs 15 crore under the
Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), according to state sports and youth services minister Gulihatti D Shekhar.
Addressing a news conference, he said the department has proposed utilise Rs 10 crore for laying hockey turf in Chitradurga and a place for synthetic turf for athletics would be identified soon.
The Rs 15 crore grant under the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) would be utilised for encouraging and promotion of sports and games among rural youth by providing them with access to basic sports infrastructure and equipment at the panchayat level.
Boost for Rural Sports Talent
The minister, who participated in the all state sports ministers’ meet in Delhi last week, said the sports ministers’ met in 2008 had decided to set up PYKKA to promote rural sports talent.
The department would utilise funds of Rs. 15 crore given to the state to hold sport events such as khokho, kabaddi, volleyball, football at the gram pancahayat, block and district and state levels.
Funds would be given to gram panchayats to conducts the events. Cash awards would be given to winners at all levels, he said.
About PYKKA
PYKKA is a 10 year programme and every year 10 per cent of the total panchcyats in the state would get funds. The selected panchayats would get Rs 10 lac each a year.
The PYKKA programme would be implemented through state government as a centrally sponsored scheme with one-time seed capital assistance and limited period recurring grant as Central grant-in-aid.
The one-time seed capital grant would be shared between the Central government and state governments on 75:25.
A Playfield Association of state will be formed, which in turn to be affiliated with All India Playfield Association. Similar associations to be formed at the grassroort levels, he said.
All the ongoing all India rural sports programmes have been subsumed in PYKKA.
PYKKA would make use of sports infrastructure in schools, wherever available, and further strengthen it and link it with community sports.
Felicitation to Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
The minister said tennis players Rohan Bopanna of state and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, who lost in the US Open double finals, would be felicitated during the Dasara festival in Mysore.
He also congratulated Sushil Kumar, the first Indian to win championship gold medal in World Wrestling Championship.