PM stresses on the need for development of sports talent at the grassroots level
Emphasizing on the need to nurture sports talent at the grassroots level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that his government has tripled the budget of the Sports Ministry since 2014, fully prepared for this. Addressing the closing ceremony of Sansad Khel Mahakumbh through virtual medium, the Prime Minister said that there is no dearth of sports talents in the rural areas of the country, they just need to be nurtured. The government is making many efforts in this direction.
He said that under the Khelo India campaign, along with other sports facilities, attention is also being given to the training of the players. Now the country is moving forward with a holistic approach. Several provisions have been made for this in this year’s budget. Compared to the year 2014, the budget of the sports ministry is almost three times more now. Today many modern stadiums are being built in the country. Through schemes like TOPS, assistance of lakhs of rupees is being given to the players for their training.
Congratulating all the players who participated in the Parliament Sports Competition, the Prime Minister said, I believe that if India has to become the world’s best sports power, then for that we have to find new ways, choose new ways, make new arrangements. also have to be built. This Sansad Khel Mahakumbh is such a new route. In order to advance the talents of sports, it is very important that there should be continuous sports competitions at the local level.
Describing the organization of the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh programs as a strong foundation for the grand building of the future, he said that you can imagine, how many young players are getting a chance to move forward. Beyond these competitions, many players go on to play at the state level and national level. Such talents will also emerge from among you who will go ahead and win medals for the country in international events like Olympics. That’s why I consider Sansad Khel Mahakumbh as a strong foundation on which a grand edifice of the future is going to be built.
Modi said that there was a time when there used to be a lot of sports and games in the fairs held in villages and villages. Various games were also organized in the akhadas. But times changed and all these old systems gradually started to decline. The situation has even become such that the periods of physical exercise used to be considered as a time pass period in schools.
Because of such thinking, the country lost its three-four generations. The Prime Minister told the sportspersons that emphasis is being laid on millets for good nutrition. Coarse grains like jowar, millet come under the category of superfoods. You all have to join these campaigns. You have to lead this mission of the country. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP MP from Gorakhpur Ravi Kishan were also present on the occasion.
