Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 19: Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Imran Raza Ansari today said that education, skill building and sports are the core means for empowering youth and the State Government is making targeted efforts to empower youth by way of imparting them with requisite proficiency to achieve this objective.
The Minister said this while replying to the Discussion on Demand for Grants of Technical Education, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports and allied Departments in the Legislative Assembly.
“All interventions that are being made, whether it is Sports, Skill Development, Technical Education or Information Technology, are aimed at youth welfare by facilitating skill development, encouraging entrepreneurship besides promoting sports and cultural exchanges”, the Minister said.
He informed that the network of ITIs and Polytechnics in the State are witnessing 100% admissions while as ITIs have seen 97% admissions in the State and are producing skilled manpower of about 25,000 persons annually. He informed that 78 new job-oriented trade units have been introduced in ITIs on self-financing basis, besides new Polytechnics have been established in Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Ganderbal, Anantnag, and Polytechnics in Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur will be made functional soon.
The Minister also informed that for promotion of Youth Services and Sports (YSS), the State Government has taken various path-breaking steps to create world class sports facilities for the youth.
The Minister further informed that the department is organizing football tournaments in 199 zones under “Let’s Play” co-branding with ‘Khelo India’ programme in which 54,702 youth have registered online for their participation in the said tournaments.
To increase the reach of sports, YSS has started construction of new campus for College of Physical Education Teacher at Gadoora, Ganderbal at the cost of Rs 30.39 crore and would take up the execution of Phase II costing Rs 43.533 crore during 2018-19, the Minister said. Further, 109 development works for improvement of sports infra in the state are being undertaken to the estimated cost Rs. 223 lakh.
“The Department is mulling to construct Volleyball Court in each district of the state at the aggregate cost of Rs. 176 lakh”, he added. Additionally, projects for construction of 22 Indoor Sports Stadiums, one in each district, under PMDP are also being finalized and would be constructed soon.
The Government has also opened football academies in every district in which international sportspersons including Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo, Ishfaq and Saajid are imparting training to the budding players. More than 40 coaching camps were held during 2017 for football training under different age groups, the Minister informed.
The Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir State Skill Development Mission (JKSSDM) was created in September, 2017 with a mandate to integrate skill development programmes, providing trainings to semi-skilled and unskilled youth, connecting them with the job providers, besides implementing and monitoring the policies and programmes under NSDM and SSDM.
Under the mission, 47,000 youth will be trained in different crafts in next three years, he informed.
“JKSDM headed by Chief Minister has also launched State Engagement Component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2.0 in which 47,302 persons would be trained till 2019-20 and a target for the current financial year has been kept at 14,900”, he said.
Later, the House passed the grants with a voice vote.
Earlier, initiating the discussion, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi urged the Government to include more skill trainings in the Polytechnic Colleges to bring the traditional arts into mainstream. He said a good lot of people of his constituency are associated in Kangri making and the Government should take steps to promote this skill by bringing into mainstream and encourage youth to adopt it to earn livelihood.
Rajesh Gupta observed that sports develop positive energy among youth, make them mentally and physically sound and unite the people across the social and religious barriers. He said the menace of drug addiction can be eradicated by involving youths in sports. He also urged Government to focus on the promotion of football in Jammu as it is more popular game in the division.
Bashir Ahmad Dar appreciated the Technical Education Minister for his contribution in strengthening the departments under his control. Yawar Ahmad Mir said Government needs to groom the potential players from the very beginning and shun the practice of adopting players after they show good performance.
He asked Government to establish a volleyball ground and other related sports infrastructure in Rafiabad. He also called for establishment of an ITI at Dangiwacha.
Ravinder Raina urged the Government to promote cricket game in the State. He asked Government to organise more training camps for cricket players to realize the dream of having State’s own team in IPL. He also appealed Government for development of International Cricket Stadiums in the State for hosting cricket matches on the pattern of IPL.
Satpaul Sharma urged the Government to build sports infrastructure in all uncovered areas so that the energy of youth is channelized in a better way. He also urged the Government to name a mini stadium on Pandit Prem Nath Dogra who was an outstanding football player, besides being a legislator.
Anjum Fazili stated that the there was impending need to channelize the energy of youth, who constitute 65 percent of the population, in right direction and said that sports is the best way to engage the youth in productive activities.
She also urged the Government to lay focus on promoting sports among girls. She also praised the Government for reviving water sports in the state and organising winter games successfully.
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