Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 25: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a review meeting of the Youth Services & Sports Department, emphasizing the pivotal role of the department in channelizing the energy of the youth into productive avenues.
He stressed that apart from sports, young people should be encouraged to explore diverse domains such as music, arts, and other creative pursuits in line with their interests and aspirations.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D vaidya, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports (YS&S), Yasha Mudgal; Director General, YS&S; Director General, Resources; Executive Director, J&K Bank; Secretary, J&K Sports Council; and other senior officers.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to youth development, the Chief Secretary assured the department of unhindered and adequate budgetary support.
He further advised the department to work towards hosting high-profile sporting events in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in football, cricket, and other popular disciplines.
He also stressed the importance of bringing national-level events like that of the Khelo India Winter Games and Khelo India Water Sports Festival held regularly in J&K in other spirts disciplines too. He assured that he would make personal efforts to facilitate collaborations with premier sports bodies like the AIFF and BCCI to realize this vision.
Presenting the achievements of the department, Commissioner Secretary, YS&S, Yasha Mudgal informed that the Union Territory recorded a remarkable improvement in its medal tally this year, with youth athletes winning 44 Gold, 54 Silver, and 82 Bronze medals, compared to 31 Gold, 20 Silver, and 52 Bronze last year. This also includes 3 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze medal at international competitions.
Providing details of upcoming engagements, it was informed that the J&K Sports Council is set to organize 79 activities across the UT, including 4 international, 7 national, 27 UT-level, 14 league/community activities, and 27 coaching camps, targeting participation of nearly 25 lakh youth.
On infrastructure development, it was revealed that 343 capex works are currently underway, of which 55 have been completed and 220 are scheduled for completion this year, further strengthening the sports ecosystem in the UT.
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