Anil Paba
The Sport Authority of India (SAI) has decided to shift its Sports Training Centre (STC) from Udhampur to Jammu with a plea that it will groom young talent in Jammu as the District Udhampur hardly encouraged the centre during all these years.
It is recalled that the of Sports Authority of India (SAI) has established Sports Training Centre at Udhampur in association with Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) in the year 1991 under the joint venture of Sports Authority of India and State Government. A double storey building with estimated cost of Rs. 55.00 lacs at that time with major share borne by State government was created at Udhampur.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in the presence of then Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah with understanding that Administrative control along with expenditure to be incurred on lodging, boarding, equipments and other incentives to selected inmates including salary of the staff shall be borne by SAI and all other facilities like ground, water, electricity etc. would be provided by the State Government. The Sports Training Centre remained well established during all these years and as a result of the activities large number of young sports persons could achieve distinction in the disciplines of Athletics, Volley ball, Kabaddi, Handball etc., at National and State level.
The scheme of Central Government to centralize sports activities by reaching out to various districts and fortunately Udhampur district was the only one in the State to have this facility.
Recently, the shocking news for the closure of the Centre and shifting of complete paraphernalia to Jammu has brought disappointment to all category of people especially Sports persons and sports lovers. After a hue and cry from local NGO and other citizens of Udhampur the order of shifting of complex has been kept in abeyance by The Sports Authority of India (SAI). Besides these a fresh controversy also arises whether to shift the Centre to Jammu or Srinagar.The Government is interested to shift the Sports Training Centre to Srinagar instead of Jammu whatever be the reason.
It is pertinent to mention that the district Udhampur covers far-flung areas like hilly belt of Dudu- Basantgarh and touching the rural areas of district Doda.
If the Sports Department intends to build additional infrastructure at Jammu or Srinagar it will be a welcome step but in case the centre to which the sentiments of thousands of people are attached is disbanded and shifted it would definitely create a wedge between the agencies and people of all walks of life.
In case SAI feels that there is shortage of grounds and other facilities the innocent people of the town are ready to shoulder the responsibility but in no case the authority would be allowed to close the Centre.
The District Udhampur has suffered the worst kind of neglect and humiliation in all respect but now their patience has reached the breaking point. The people of Udhampur have realized that there is no scope for an honorable place for them nor there is any reason for their growth and prosperity in the existing set-up.
It is unfortunate that the voice of people of Udhampur for their genuine rights have always been muffled, but any attempt to shift the SAI office to Jammu/Sri nagar or any where else from Udhampur shall have adverse affects in Udhampur as the State is not represent only a few district.
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