Key Takeaways
- The Government has allocated higher funds for sports in the budget to enhance sports culture in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The budget includes provision for establishing National Centres of Excellence for Water Sports and Cricket Academies.
- High performance training centres are being developed in all districts to enhance athletes training and performance.
- The budget includes provision for empowering coaches through specialised capacity building programmes.
Jammu: To deliberate on the budget announcements and review the activities and achievements of the department, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez on Wednesday discussed the future roadmap and strategic implementation in order to make Jammu and Kashmir ready to produce international stuff and making it a sporting hub.
Chairing a meeting of officers here at the Civil Secretariat, the officer discussed that a Water Sports Festival will jointly be organised by J&K Sports Council in the month of April in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
Notably, the Government has kept higher allocation towards sports in Budget 2025 and had underlined its commitment to make J&K an elite sporting State/UT through the 2025 budget, where sports received its highest-ever allocation.
The enhancement in honorarium and refreshment charges of the players was also discussed in the meeting.
The Government has made significant budget announcements to enhance sports culture in Jammu and Kashmir. Some key initiatives include engaging 75 lakh youth in sports activities, establishing National Centres of Excellence for Water Sports, and setting up Cricket Academies. Additionally, high performance training centres are being developed, and national/international sports events are being hosted to boost tourism and infrastructure. The budget also includes provision for empowering coaches, developing sports infrastructure, and creating sports facilities for migrants.
Prominent among others who attended the meeting were Rajinder Singh Tara, Director General Youth Services and Sports; Jyoti Rani Slathia, Special Secretary YSS; Ashok Kumar Khajuria, Director Finance YSS; Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council; Ashiq Bhat, Joint Director Planning; Ravi Kumar, Deputy Director Planning YSS; Jitender Mishra, Deputy Director Central and Nitin Hangloo, representative of NYK.
