Rs 4.13-crore for completing MP's sports structures

Bhopal, Aug 29 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced a Rs 4.13-crore grant for completion of sports structures including stadia; Rs 1 crore for constructing an International Khel Gram at nearby Satgarhi and institution of a scholarship for village girls winning medals at national and international events.

''An additional provision of Rs 25 lakh will be made for providing cash awards to players bagging medals in accredited games at national and international events. A provision of Rs 10 lakh will be made for providing accident insurance cover to state players taking part in national and international events,'' he said during a Khel Panchayat organised at his residence on National Sports Day, as per an official release.

The Khel Gram would be completed on the private-public partnership model.

Honorarium provided to coaches posted in villages having a population of 5,000 to 14,000 would be increased from Rs 600 to Rs 750 per month. Honorarium of Rs 1,500 being paid to rural youth coordinators at Gramin Yuva Kendras set up by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department would be enhanced to Rs 1,800.

A sum of Rs 35 lakh would be provided for formation of self-help groups of sportspersons and establishment of sports shops at divisional headquarters.

Honorarium would be enhanced to Rs 10,000 per month for players of international fame. The film 'Chak De India', on women's hockey, would be exempt from entertainment tax. A committee would be constituted to elicit suggestions about allotment of houses and plots to players.

Other speakers included Minister of State for Sports and Youth Welfare Tukojirao Puar, MP Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Madhya Pradesh Olympics Association President Mahesh Joshi, MLA Girijashankar Sharma, BJP Sports Cell President Deepak Joshi and former Director General of Police K S Rathore.

The Chief Minister garlanded a picture of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, on the latter's birth anniversary, and felicitated the Major's son Arjuna awardee Ashok Kumar, Olympians Inam-ur-Rehman and Jalaluddin, the release added.

UNI