Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari said over 500 sportspersons from Jammu and Kashmir have won medals at National and Zonal events held over the last three years.
Giving details in the Legislative Assembly during Question-Hour when entire opposition was protesting in the House, Mr Ansari said the State’s sportspersons won the medals at competitions sponsored by State Sports Associations under the aegis of J&K State Sports Council.
“In 2012-13, J&K’s sportspersons won 59 Gold medals, 53 Silver and 50 Bronze. In 2013-14, the figures were 47, 64, 60 and in 2014-15, 43, 73 and 90 respectively,” Mr Ansari said. Besides, the Minister said, 54 players have got honour to represent the country in international events held during the last three years in Gymnastics, Wushu, Roller Skating, Fencing, Taekwando, Handball, Power-Lifting, Chess, Thang-Ta, Kayaking and Canoeing, Skiing, Yoga, Karate and Judo.
Giving out province-wise details, the Minister said the number of establishment owned by Youth Services and Sports Department in Kashmir province are 114 with 2160 permanent, seven contractual and 19 need-basis employees while in Jammu, the number of establishments are 108 with 2521 permanent, one contractual and five need-basis employees. At the State level, the Department has nine permanent establishments with 84 permanent and 41 need-basis employees, the Minister said.
The total number of employees including need-basis in Youth Service and Sports Department is 5070, the Minister said. In reply to MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania’s question, Mr Ansari said the J&K State Sports Council has 133 permanent, 10 contractual and 14 on-deputation employees in Kashmir province while in Jammu, the Council has 169 permanent employees, two contractual, 15 causal and 12 on-deputation employees with a total of 355 employees.
The Minister said that the Department of Youth Services and Sports has got Rs 8511.54 lakhs in budgetary allocation under State Plan for 2014-15 with Revenue Component of Rs 7886.39 lakhs and Capital Component of Rs 625.15 lakhs. Jammu province has got Rs 123.89 lakhs while Kashmir has got Rs 90.611 lakhs.
The Government has allocated Rs 411.15 lakhs for Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal, Mini Stadium Rajouri, Youth Hostel Patnitop, Nagrota and Srinagar. The Sports Council is grant in aid body having limited grant in aid of Rs 480 lakhs under capex budget for development of stadia and play fields, the Minister said.
The Minister informed the house that the Indoor Multi-Purpose Hall under construction at MA Stadium Jammu will be completed as per approved plans with the height of 12 metres and within the approved cost of Rs 7 crores.
“The height of MP Indoor Hall under construction at MA Stadium Jammu is 12 metres and it will not be reduced in any case,” the Minister said.
“The basic facilities in the shape of change rooms, washrooms, wardrobes, showers and other allied facilities have already been provided at the Swimming Pool, Jammu, both for ladies and gentlemen which has recently been renovated,” he said. The Minister further said the defunct diving pool has been renovated up to the standard of eight lane competitive pool to host National-level competitions.