Sports Dept fails to conduct zonal events

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 22

After renaming the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan as Khelo India, the Sports Department failed to organise zonal-level rural games this year. Ironically, the district sports office did not receive the schedule for the zonal events.

According to the information, after renaming the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan as Khelo India last year, the central government has not been releasing any funds.

The Director, Sports Punjab, sent the schedule for the district-level competition. Ironically the department did not release any funds to the districts for organising the event. The district officials have been asked to arrange the funds from their sources to conduct the district-level competitions. The district officials are going to start the sports competitions for the sake of formality.

The government had introduced the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) scheme, 2008, to promote sports in the rural areas of the country. The Sports Ministry used to issue grants to uplift the rural infrastructure. During 2012, the UPA government had renamed the scheme as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan. The modules of the schemes were the same. Last year, the BJP-led government again renamed the scheme as Kehlo India. But after renaming the scheme, the government did not implement the components of the scheme. As per the provision, the central government releases 70 per cent grant and the State government issues 30 per cent matching grant.

Kartar Singh, Addition Director, Sports, said, “The government added some other components in the Kehlo India scheme. The new draft of the scheme is yet to be implemented. The block-level games under Khelo India were cancelled due to delay. Department officials said competitions in 11 different sports would be organised.