Secretary, Youth Services and Sports (YSS), Sarmad Hafeez today e-inaugurated 15 projects completed in the Jammu division under the Capex budget by the J&K Sports Council, and dedicated the newly laid up sports facilities to the youth of J&K.
Director Youth Services, and Sports Department, Subash C. Chibber; Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull and other senior officers of YSS department were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary said that the aim is to expand the base of sports facilities across the union territory. He added that this unprecedented boost to sporting infrastructure is aimed at promoting sports culture and proactively engaging youth in sports and fitness activities, besides tapping the raw talent for professional training and transformation into international calibre athletes.
Sarmad Hafeez directed for the optimal utilization of infrastructure by organizing regular sports activities across the union territory and purposefully engaging the youth in these facilities. He also directed the concerned to ensure the upkeep, maintenance, and cleanliness of all sports stadiums and promote their usage by a greater number, besides, installing proper signage for easy identification and public awareness.
He also directed the Sports Council to coordinate with the Department of Youth Services and Education department and promote engagements through regional tournaments and games regularly.
The Secretary also gave directions for regular monitoring of its asset utilization by analyzing the number of hours played, the number of games organized, and the number of players engaged at each facility. He also asked to lay special focus on organizing special talent hunt programs at the block level and across the union territory.
The projects inaugurated today are in the various zones of the Jammu division, stretching from RS Pura to Bhasoli and Bhilawar to Mahanpur and as far as Bhaderwah covering five districts of the province.
The sports-related infrastructural projects have been completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 446.96 lakhs and include construction of one Basketball court, four synthetic Volleyball courts, and other developmental projects relating to improvement of existing approachable roads to some sports facilities, construction of pavilion block, laying of Cricket Pitch and two Wrestling centres, among others.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration, Secretary Sports Council thanked the administration for its support to J&K Sports Council in connecting the youth of the union territory of J&K through sports. She said that we have players from south Kashmir reaching the northern part to participate in the sports events and likewise players from Kathua reaching Bhaderwah, which became only possible due to the stretching out of sporting facilities across the union territory.
Pertinently the sports infrastructure has grown by leaps and bounds past few years and the growth is reciprocated by the performance of J&K athletes in both international and national events.
