Excelsior Special Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Maintaining that talent hunt is the main objective behind taking and expanding sports activities in the rural areas, Minister for Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology and Technical Education Molvi Imran Raza Ansari today urged the youth to participate vigorously in the sports activities.
The Minister was speaking at a function organised in connection with the inauguration of Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari Memorial Cricket Tournament at a far off rural area of Rathsun-Beerwah in district Budgam.
As many as 32 cricket teams of Budgam and Baramulla districts are participating in the Tournament which will last for more than a month.
Member Legislative Council, Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Ex MLA Beerwah, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani and District President PDP, Budgam Mohi-ud–Din Muntazir were present on the occasion besides senior citizens, political activists, officers of police and civil administration and thousands of people from the area.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister announced Rs 5 lakh for levelling of the playfield at Rathsun. He also announced construction of tube-well and bathroom at the playfield and directed concerned Youth Services Officer to provide mat for the cricket pitch so that players do not face any inconvenience.
The Minister congratulated the organizers of the tournament and assured them every possible support in developing the play field, besides providing services of coaches.
The first match of the tournament was played between Sher Ali Cricket Club Mirgund Pattan and Baba Haneef-ud-Din Club Rathsun.
Emphasising the need for inculcating the spirit of sports, the Minister said that sports are very essential for maintenance of health as has been emphasised by latest scientific research in the field of medical science.
He called upon the youth of North Kashmir to produce sports personalities like Parvez Rasool by focusing on the game during the leisure time.
MLC Saif-ud-Din Bhat also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the policies and programmes of the Government and announced Rs 2 lakh out of his Constituency Development Fund for levelling of playfield at Rathsun.
Earlier, the Minister held a Public Durbar in which senior citizens of the area projected their demands including dredging of Nullah from Beerwah to Makhama, reconstruction of shrine of Baba Haneef-ud-Din Reshi and other issues relating to day to day life.
The Minister heard them patiently and assured them that their demands will be looked into on priority basis.
On the occasion, the Sqay Federation of Indian honoured the Minister with Masters degree in Sqay ( Martial Arts).
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