Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 29: Minister for Medical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din today said sports would soon be incorporated into the school curriculum and his Department is in touch with Education Department in this connection. He said the aim is to inculcate sports spirit among student community.
Chairing the 129th meeting of Standing Committee of J&K State Sports Council here today, the Minister said strengthening of sports infrastructure in the State is his priority and he is keen that stadia particularly indoor are constructed in every block of the State as youth here have limited recreational facilities available and that too for a limited season.
Sensing this, the Minister said, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has sanctioned a package of more than Rs 700 crore for J&K to strengthen its sports infrastructure. He said Astroturfs are being laid on TRC grounds, Srinagar and at Baramulla. He said MA Stadium Jammu is also being upgraded to hold national level events. In addition, he said, every stadium and sports body is being provided sports kits and equipment.
In today’s meeting, the committee approved the setting up of District Sports Councils for coordinating sports activities in the districts. These councils would have representation from Youth Services and Sports Department, Sports Council and District administration.
In another major decision, the committee fixed age and tenure for the office bearers of sports bodies. Any office bearer cannot hold a post beyond two terms of four years each before going through a cooling period of four years. No person beyond 70 years of age can be an office bearer of any sports body, the committee approved.
The committee also approved engagement of equal number of coaches in Srinagar and Jammu on contract basis. It also set up a sub committee comprising two joint secretaries and two members of the Council to rationalize the number of coaches and identify the trained coaches willing to train the youth in the State.
The committee also approved strengthening of the engineering wing of the Sports Council to speed up its working.
Consultant Finance Department, Ravi Mangotra, Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Parvez Malik, Secretary, Sports Council, Dileep Thusu and members of the Standing Council were present in the meeting.
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