Kinalur/Kozhikode, Feb 13 (PTI) The Minister of State forYouth Affairs and Sports, Ajay Maken today announcedassistance of Rs 5 crores for the PT Usha run Usha AthleticsSchool for the development of Synthetic Turf here.
The synthetic turf, once completed, would be only thirdin the state and first of its kind in the region.
Addressing the media at a function organised at theSchool premises here, Maken said it was his first visitoutside the Capital as the Sports Minister and it was a matterof great pleasure that the Government was able to do somethingfor an institution run by professional sportsperson like PTUsha.
The sporting legend, who was also present on theoccasion, said the synthetic turf would help the athletes,training at her school immensely, since in this monsoonaffected region of Kerela dry tracks and turf were verydifficult to find and maintain.
Maken also said that it would be his endeavor to ensurethat sportsperson in the State as also the entire country didnot face any infrastructural impediments in their training.
"The Government would do everything to provide them withample support," he added.
Recalling that he had grown up as the generation that hadwitnessed Usha''s glorious contribution to Indian Sports, Makenreiterated his stand of ensuring that Sports Federation andOrganisations be run and managed by sportsperson and peopleconnected with sports.
Informing that the Draft Sports Development Bill whichwould ensure such provisions apart from other things would beready soon, Maken said, "It would be put up on the Ministry''sweb site by 20th February for suggestions and objections ifany, before being finalised." PTI CM