Patna: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Sunday appreciated Bihar government’s initiative to develop mini stadiums and playgrounds through MGNREGA, now replaced by VB- G RAM G Act 2025, in the state and stated that centre has replicated Bihar government’s initiative across the country.
“Bihar government has developed mini stadiums and playgrounds in rural areas through MGNREGA scheme…The idea that you (Bihar) put up at sports initiative held at Hyderabad was appreciated…Now the central government has come out with VB- G RAM G scheme in this year’s Budget and the same idea will be implemented across the country,” Khadse said while addressing a “Sportstar Sports Conclave” in the state capital which was organised by Bihar State Sports Authority and Sports department, Bihar.
Extending her greetings to the people of the state on “Bihar Diwas”, Khadse said Bihar government’s initiatives to strengthen and improve sports infrastructure in the state has been appreciated by the central government.
The Centre has been taking every possible steps to improve sporting environment especially infrastructure in all the states, though it’s a state subject, Khadse said adding that Centre is ready to carry out “hand holding” of states for development of sports.
Stating that people of Bihar are passionate about sports, union minister said that people especially children need to be aware about sports science since their school days. The centre has been working on to make sports “compulsory” right from schools to colleges, she said.
There is a need to associate youth with sports to ensure their proper guidance as it would inculcate traits like discipline, time management, leadership in them, she said adding that the government is considering as how to promote sports goods manufacture in states.
The holding of big sporting events boost sports tourism which creates employment opportunities at local level, the minister said and cited Khelo India event organised by Bihar last year as example that let 10,000 athletes, gathered across from the country, to know more about state and its culture. Such initiative help economic growth of the state also.
Stating that Commonwealth Games 2028 will be organised in India while World Athletics Championships will be organised in Odisha, she said and added that the hosting of more and more international sporting events will make and prepare athletes compete at international standard level besides further strengthening sports eco-system and infrastructure in the state.
ONE EVENT BE GIVEN TO BIHAR, IF INDIA GETS TO HOST OLYMPICS 2036: SHREYASI
Addressing the event, Bihar’s sports minister Shreyasi Singh, who won gold medal at Commonwealth Games 2018, urged the union minister to give Bihar the opportunity to host one or two games if India gets to host 2036 Olympics games in India.
Similarly, the state should be given an opportunity to host one event (sports) as India has won the bid to host Commonwealth Games in 2028, she asserted while urging “the union minister to convey the PM Narendra Modi jee the state’s willingness to host one game in Bihar.”
Athletes of Bihar will get experience and confidence if the state gets to host international games in the state, she added.
The state has done a plenty of work for the development of sports infrastructure in the state including world class international sports complex at Rajgir (Nalanda) about which Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped a fulsome praise. Besides, sports city near Patna is being developed too, she added.
The government has adopted twin strategy to improve overall sports scenario in the state, she said while stating that first, amateur athletes are being prepared and nurtured at grassroot level and secondly, developing stadiums of national and international standards to give them better infrastructure.
Eklavya centres have been opened inside the school premises in the state for the overall development of athletes where they get facilities like fooding, lodging and other facilities, Singh said adding that these centres ensure that athletes’ studies are not hampered anyway.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken a decision to open “District Centre of Excellence” in every district which has been tagged with University so that athletes’ studies and training can go together without compromising on their studies.
Exuding confidence that athletes from Bihar will be included in good numbers in Indian delegation of 2036 Olympics games, sports minister said the government has provided basic needs like ration, road, electricity, education to every household in the state and now its goal is to take sports to every household that would help change the meaning of age-old proverb “Kheloge Kudoge Hoge Kharab, Padhoge Likhoge, Hoge Nawab”.
Sports is creating employment opportunities today, Singh said while urging sports entrepreneurs to set up industries like sports apparel and equipment in Bihar and assured them that the state government would extend them all possible help and assistance.
BIHAR NOT ONLY WRITES HISTORY, IT CREATES HISTORY: SANKARAN
Bihar State Sports Authority Director General-cum-CEO and senior IPS officer Raveendran Sankaran said that Bihar does not merely write history, it rather creates history.
Today, discussions are taking place about hosting Olympic Games in Bihar. However, very few people know that for 15 years, the office of the Indian Olympic Association was located in Bihar and its president was JRD Tata while Moin-ul Haque was its secretary general, he said.
The DG mentioned about Bihar’s athlete Shivnath Singh who had qualified for the 1968 Olympics in track and field category. Recently, Bihar’s sprinter Piyush Raj won the gold medal in a 400-meter race competition held in Thiruvananthapuram and has qualified for the World Athletics Championship.
He further stated that the suggestions received in this conclave regarding the development of sports will be presented at the national-level “Chintan Shivir” scheduled to be held in April.
The program was also attended by Sports Department’s Secretary Mahendra Kumar along with other officials on the occasion.
