The Fact News Service
Hoshiarpur, April 13
With a view to further strengthen sports cultures at grassroots level, Member Parliament Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal on Saturday appealed panchayats to enhance sports activities to tap unbounded sports talent amongst youngsters as Punjab Government is going to make playgrounds and indoor stadiums in villages across the state.
Inaugurating the first volleyball and tug-of-war tournament initiated by Gram Panchayat, Bainstani, Member Parliament Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal stated that Panchayats were contributing a lot in all round development of rural areas and these elected bodies could also play a pivotal role in encouraging sports resulting in creation of healthy sports environment in villages. “It is high time to engage youngsters towards the games of their choices so they can excel at national as well as international level tourneys” said Dr. Chabbewal.
Referring to Punjab Government’s Khed-da Punjab, Badalda Punjab’ endeavour, Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal said that villages would get playgrounds and as many as 3000 indoor gyms across Punjab besides modernisation of 13 existing Centres of Excellence for Sports, which would further boost the sports activities. He said the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is to take sports at grassroots level for which a budgetary provision of Rs. 979 crore had been set aside for the current fiscal year. It is for the first time in the history of Punjab that such a highest amount for sports has been earmarked, he added.
Lauding the initiative of village Panchayat, Sarpanch Santosh Singh, NRI Baljit Singh, Davinder Singh and villagers for organising tournament, Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal pointed out that Punjab Government had made as many as 87 playgrounds for volleyball in view of volleyball popularity amongst youngsters in Tarn Taran just within two weeks on pilot basis. He assured that the Hoshiarpur villages would also get playgrounds, where required, to ensure strong connect of youngsters with their sport of choice. He also thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for budget provision of playgrounds in villages and 3000 indoor stadiums in Pnnjab which would further motivate youth to excel in sports. He said that these grounds will have running tracks, separate playing area for children, solar lighting and other facilities.
Dr. Chabbewal also exhorted the youngsters to work hard in sports for clinching medals at national and international events as Punjabis had always secured a unique place on international sports map. He emphasised that drugs could also be contained by promoting sports at the grassroots level for which Punjab Government was making all out efforts. The Member Parliament also announced sports ground, gymnasium and 25 solar lights for village.
