Patna: Bihar Chief Secretary, Pratyaya Amrit, has called for tighter monitoring, enhanced security and greater private sector participation in the state’s sports ecosystem during a high-level review meeting of the Sports Department on Thursday.
The meeting, attended by Sports Secretary Mahendra Kumar and senior officials, focused on strengthening governance, accountability and infrastructure across sports facilities in Bihar.
The Chief Secretary directed that CCTV cameras be installed at all sports facilities across panchayats and outdoor stadiums to ensure transparency, safety and accountability. He emphasised the need for a robust institutional monitoring framework to systematically track the activation, functioning and progress of Khel Clubs across the state.
The activation process of Khel Clubs, he said, must be institutionalised to enable periodic reviews and measurable performance assessments. He also instructed that regular inspections be conducted at the secretary level to ensure effective oversight and implementation of sports initiatives.
Highlighting the importance of collaborative development, the chief secretary stressed the need to actively involve private stakeholders through a structured public-private partnership (PPP) model. He directed the department to develop a clear policy framework to facilitate partnerships between public institutions and private players, ensuring accountability and engagement from all stakeholders.
He also encouraged the department to work with local industry partners to promote sports activities and increase youth participation in tournaments and competitive events, describing an inclusive PPP framework as essential for sustainable sports development in Bihar.
To strengthen accountability at the grassroots level, the chief secretary ordered that district sports officers, state government sports trainers and physical education teachers be tagged with each Khel Club to establish clear lines of responsibility.
In a bid to ensure transparency in procurement and prevent monopolisation, he instructed the department to empanel sports suppliers and vendors through an open call process. Quality sports goods, he said, should be supplied to Khel Clubs at uniform prices across the state, with a price cap to prevent monopolistic practices and ensure affordability.
During the review, Amrit expressed satisfaction with the functioning of the 27 Eklavya Centres currently operational and directed officials to expedite the activation of the remaining planned centres.
Officials also briefed the meeting on plans to organise half-marathon events in November and February, with the first event scheduled for this November.
