Fatehgarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has inaugurated 1,000 new ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ (rural sports grounds) across the state to promote sports culture among rural youth and keep them away from drug abuse. The inauguration ceremony was held at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib district.
With the addition of these 1,000 grounds, the total number of sports grounds dedicated to the initiative in Punjab has reached 1,764. The state government aims to develop a total of 3,100 rural sports grounds across Punjab.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the initiative is an important step towards directing the energy of young people towards sports, fitness and other positive activities. He said the government aims to develop Punjab as an international hub for sporting talent by providing modern sports infrastructure and training opportunities at the village level.
3,100 Rural Sports Grounds to Be Developed Across Punjab
The Chief Minister said the development of 3,100 ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ is a major part of the state’s ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign against drug abuse. The initiative aims to establish a strong sports culture in every village and encourage young people to choose fitness, discipline and constructive activities over drugs.
He said the government is developing high-quality sports infrastructure in rural areas for the first time on such a large scale, ensuring that young people can access modern facilities close to their homes.
The initiative has been implemented in phases. During the first phase, 255 sports grounds were dedicated to the public on May 4. In the second phase, another 509 grounds were inaugurated on August 24. With the inauguration of 1,000 additional grounds in the third phase, the programme has entered another important stage. These include 93 sports grounds in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
The government has earmarked ₹1,500 crore for developing 3,100 modern rural sports grounds across the state.
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Modern Facilities at Rural Sports Grounds
The newly developed grounds will feature modern facilities to support sports, fitness and recreational activities for people of all age groups.
These include six-foot-high chain-link boundary fencing, six-foot-wide walking tracks with footlights, green spaces, separate toilets for men and women, storage rooms for sports kits and equipment, and submersible pumps and hydrants for watering grass and plants.
The grounds will also have high-mast lights for proper illumination and dedicated children’s play areas with swings, climbing structures and slides. Selected grounds will additionally feature well-maintained grass turfs and six-lane, 400-metre running tracks to promote athletics and running activities.
Sports Kits and Free Coaching for Rural Youth
To ensure that financial limitations do not prevent children from participating in sports, the government will provide sports equipment to villages.
Each village will receive football and hockey goalposts, volleyball poles with two nets, three volleyballs, three footballs and cricket kits. The government will also provide 36 pairs of football studs to each village. Villages where cricket is particularly popular will receive complete cricket kits.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that providing infrastructure alone is not enough and that young players also need proper guidance and training. Therefore, football and volleyball coaches will be deployed at all sports grounds to provide free coaching to young people.
He added that the facilities would help rural talent develop and create opportunities for young athletes to compete at national and international levels.
Village Committees to Maintain Sports Grounds
The Chief Minister said village-level committees will be responsible for the proper maintenance and upkeep of the sports grounds to ensure that the facilities remain functional and are regularly used by children and young people.
These committees will include the village sarpanch, youth club president, concerned junior engineer and panchayat secretary. The Gram Panchayat will also nominate a woman member or a sportsperson to the committee.
The government aims to ensure community participation in maintaining the facilities and building a sustainable sports culture across rural Punjab.
Punjab Expands Sports Infrastructure Under Anti-Drug Campaign
The state government has been expanding sports infrastructure under its ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign to engage young people in constructive activities and strengthen the fight against drug abuse.
Apart from the 3,100 rural sports grounds, the government is developing 600 rural gyms, of which 500 have already been completed. The initiative also encourages participation in sports and fitness activities among children and older people.
The government has allocated a record sports budget of ₹1,744 crore to strengthen the state’s sports ecosystem.
₹135 Crore Awarded to Over 40,000 Players
Under the new sports policy introduced in 2023, the Punjab government has distributed ₹135 crore in prize money to 40,415 players since 2022.
Financial assistance is also being provided to athletes preparing for major international competitions. Players receive ₹15 lakh for Olympic preparations and ₹8 lakh for preparations for the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
The state is also expanding its sporting calendar through the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ initiative. Punjab recently hosted the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy and organised the ‘Sher-e-Punjab T20 League’ on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
These initiatives are aimed at creating a stronger sporting environment and providing rural talent with opportunities to compete at national and international levels.
Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and other dignitaries were also present at the inauguration ceremony.
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