*Old, blue-eyed members may face axe; young brigade expected
Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Aug 2: The State of Jammu and Kashmir, which is striving hard to craft a space on the Country’s Sports Map, possesses two elite Organizations for promoting sports in the State. One is the Department of Youth Services and Sports and another being J&K State Sports Council. The first one being the Government agency to cater to the needs of the sportspersons up to Higher Secondary Standard and the second one an autonomous body, probably the elitist sports organization in the State, which has a galaxy of recognized Sports Associations as its affiliate units.
This Council is being governed by a group of members from sports, corporate, journalistic and allied sectors and the new group of members on Council has already been framed by the Government and everyone is waiting in the wings for the release of the list, which is expected any time from now.
As per reliable sources, genuine sportspersons, enthusiastic promoters and deserving heads of various Sports Associations, have been put in the list of the members to govern the highest sports body in the State. Sources said that representation has been given to all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, in order to promote sports and games in nooks and corners of the State.
“Out of a total of 29 members, 23 members are from sports, corporate and journalistic background, while the rest of the six members are Government officials, with Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as its president and Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari as its vice president,” sources added.
Sources further added that some blue-eyed members who have been representing the Council from so many years alongwith old members with hardly any contribution in promoting sports in the State have been shown the door and some young members with extraordinary sports background have been inducted in the Council.
It is pertinent to mention here that some members as per the custom have been part of the Sports Council from last two decades, just to fit the bill, with hardly any role in serving the cause of promoting sports in the State.
The omission of such members is the need of the hour and the inclusion of the sportspersons like Rasools, Malhotras, Ishfaqs and likes is the demand of the situation. For that matter everybody is expecting induction of a young and dynamic brigade in the Council to make an end to monopoly and see sports and sportspersons flourish.
The establishment of a healthy Sports Council is the lasting solution in helping the State to carve a niche in the field of sports at the higher levels. Otherwise, expecting miracles from sportspersons of the State is to ‘flog a dead horse.
Meanwhile, when contacted Hirdesh Kumar, Commissioner / Secretary Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, said that the Government is committed to promote sports in the State, under young and energetic Sports Minister, who has a dream to establish ‘Smart Sports Cities’ in both the regions of the State, adding that in this context, the Government has ensured to put in genuine sportspersons in the list of members for governing the Council.
He added that every effort has been made to give representation to healthy sportspersons from all three regions of the State to make J&K State Sports Council healthier.
The time is ripe to give fillip to sports and games in the State and the establishment of a healthy Council can help it to make its affiliate units answerable and take steps with regard to helping the disputed Associations to make an end to their quarrels.
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