JOIN USCM promises more funds
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promised more funds for the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports here on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering after presenting Ekalavya, Lifetime Achievement and Karnataka Kreeda Ratna awards tp State sportspersons for the year 2014, the chief minister said: “I have never turned down the request of the Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister K Abhaychandra Jain. As I also hold the portfolio of finance, I am generous in considering the requests of Jain”.
Saying that the government has already taken a step in this regard, by allocating more funds to encourage sports in the State, the chief minister cited the example of the new programme to extend financial assistance to State sportspersons who have been representing the country .
“Monetary assistance is given according to the demands of a particular sport. Similarly, measures are being taken to create infrastructure with over 100 talukas and 27 districts equipped with stadiums. Synthetic and other types of turfs are provided for budding sportspersons to practice,” he said.
“There is a need to encourage desi sports. Earlier, it was common in villages, where people played different types of sports during festivals,” he quipped.
Minister Jain said in the year 2015-16, financial assistance of Rs 4.47 cr was extended to encourage 565 athletes to take part in higher level in different disciplines. “In 2014-15, Rs 75 lakh was awarded to SC, ST sportspersons. Also, Rs 4 crore was allocated as special grants to encourage National Service Scheme in colleges.”
Special aid
Under ‘Sports Excellence’ scheme, the State government has started extending financial assistance to talented sports persons from the year 2015-16. The aid was given to 41 sports persons, including those who have been selected for the forthcoming Olympics at Rio. The aid, a total of Rs 1.48 cr, varied from a minimum of Rs 1.70L to a maximum of Rs 8L
At the function, 15 sportspersons were honoured with Ekalavya awards for the year 2014. The award carried a purse of Rs 8L and a memento. As many as four coaches were honoured with Lifetime Achievement awards each of which carried a sum of Rs 1.5L and a memento. The Kreeda Ratna awards, given away to 10 athletes, carried Rs 1 lakh and a memento.