By Raju Vernekar
Delhi/Mumbai, Sept 15:
The foundation stones of different sports facilities were laid as part of “Fit India Freedom Run” campaign of the Union Government, by the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju at Ladakh on Monday.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur was present during the ceremony in which foundation stones of a synthetic track & astroturf for football, open stadium, gymnasium hall at NDS indoor stadium and other facilities costing over Rs. 12 crore were laid..
The estimated project cost of the synthetic track & astroturf for football in Lehat open stadium is Rs.10.68 crore and it is scheduled to be completed by January, 2021. Similarly, construction of gymnasium hall in NDS indoor stadium would cost about Rs. 1.52 crore and it is expected to be completed by March 2021.
On the occasion, Rijiju said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the Union Government is inculcating a sporting culture in the country to keep the people healthy and fit. His ministry is contemplating in putting sporting culture into a policy frame work. The “Khelo India”, University Games and Winter Games, are encouraging the students, youth and people. He highlighted the efforts of Government to establish the predominance of India in the world sports events.
He suggested Ladakh UT Administration to constitute awards and incentives like jobs for local sports persons to encourage them to excel in the sporting field. He also asked the Ice Hockey Associations (IHA) across the country to come together to get the recognition for the sport. He said that in principle his ministry has already recognized Ice Hockey as national sport.
Rijiju asked the Ladakh UT administration to send proposals to develop sporting infrastructure in places with a thousand population in Ladakh. Under “Khelo India” programme, his ministry would relax the norms and provide funds and the facilities meant for districts in the places suggested by the administration as “Khelo India” district sub centres. Similarly, sportspersons excelled in local events would get training in 23 centres of excellence across the country, depending on their sporting disciplines.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur appealed to Rijiju to tap the potential in Ladakh for sports development and suggested that during the winters, people from other parts of the country should come to Ladakh to experience and learn winter sports.
As part of “Fit India Freedom Run” Rijiju participated in Cyclothon, along with MP Jamyang Namgyal and local cyclists. LAHDC CEC Gyal P Wangyal, senior officials from Ladakh UT and Sports Authority of India were present at various programmes.
Similarly as part of “Fit India Freedom Run” sports activities including 2-3 kms morning walks, mini marathon, cycling and yoga were organised by the Nashik based Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS). MUHS Dr Dilip Mhaisekar, Vice- Chancellor, pro-VC Dr Mohan Khamgaonkar, Registrar Dr Kalidas Chavan, Director Sandip Kulkarni and others were present during sports events. The MUHS will be organising sports programs till 02 October, as part of the “Fit India Freedom Run”.
“Fit India Freedom Run: NSG”, Running the circumference of the earth twice” is being organised throughout the country as per the advice of the Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports, to encourage fitness and help people to free themselves from obesity, laziness, stress, anxiety, diseases etc. The concept behind this run is that “It can be run anywhere, anytime!”.
