Centre to review NE sports schemes tomorrow

Agartala, Jul 8 (UNI) The Centre has convened a meeting of Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports from North-eastern states tomorrow in New Delhi to review youth affairs and sports schemes and assess infrastructure requirements at grass-roots level.

Tripura Sports Minister Tapan Chakraborty said here today that the meeting, chaired by Union Sports Minister M S Gill, would formulate plans to provide basic sports infrastructure at Panchayat level through mission mode, over a period of 10 years as a centrally sponsored programme.

With a view to creating modern sports infrastructure throughout the country, the conference would also discuss creation of outdoor/indoor stadiums, water and winter sports infrastructure, shooting range and installation of synthetic tracks.

Schemes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to provide scientific training to groom sportspersons in the age group of 14-21 years and scout and nurture the natural talent for modern competitive sports and games from inaccessible tribal, rural and coastal areas of the country would also be reviewed, Mr Chakraborty said.

The Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has requested the states to expedite construction of ongoing youth hostels to provide low cost budget accommodation to students groups and identify new sites for setting up more hostels, the projects would be reviewed in the meeting, the minister said.

Enhancing volunteers strength of National Services Scheme and working of Nehru Yuva Kendras would also be taken up in the meeting, besides identification of special projects and programmes for youth and adolescent development.

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