SHILLONG: The North Eastern Council on Friday reviewed all NEC supported ongoing sports projects in the North East and discussed the preparation of Regional Plan for Sports Sector under the chairmanship of Ashoke Kumar Dutta, member, NEC.
The meeting was attended by several State Government Officials and representatives from sports federations and associations.
The objective of the Regional Plan is to promote excellence to tap “the extraordinary sports potential” of the North Eastern Region and emphasis would be given to address the need for a “differentiated approach” according to the potential needs of each sport. The coverage would be at all levels viz. schools, colleges, clubs and other institutions of higher learning.
It may be mentioned that NEC’s Sports Sector has sanctioned 10 projects for Arunachal Pradesh with a estimated cost of Rs. 722.86 lakh, 18 projects for Assam with a total cost of Rs. 633.17 lakh, 16 for Manipur with a total cost of Rs. 869.60 lakh, 15 for Meghalaya at total cost of Rs. 1375.42 lakh, 17 for Mizoram at a total cost of Rs. 1029.45 lakh, 13 for Nagaland at a total cost of Rs. 799.07 lakh, 7 for Sikkim at a total cost of Rs. 543.91 lakh and 5 for Tripura at a total cost of Rs. 296.50 lakh during 11th five year plan. NEC has also sanctioned 2 regional projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 87 lakh.
NEC has funded construction of gymnasium-cum-indoor sports hall at JN Sports Complex, Shillong, sanctioned funds for installation of floodlight system at JN Sports Complex, provided funds for construction of covered public sitting gallery including construction of dressing room, association hall, medical hall, official rooms, ball boys room, toilet etc. at the ground floor at ground 1, Polo.
Besides this, the NEC has also funded construction of multipurpose indoor stadium at Garobadha, South West Garo Hills District among several other projects.
Besides providing support for the development of infrastructure, NEC has sanctioned grants for hosting the North East Zone Inter State Badminton Championship at Shillong, hosting the first North East Taekwondo Championship at Shillong, organizing the South Asian Federation Junior Table Tennis Championship at Shillong etc.
The regional planning meet focused on creating new employment opportunities for active and retired sportspersons, setting up of sports nurseries in NER, encouraging public-private partnerships to promote sports, strengthening sports institutions in NER, developing a strategic (regional) plan for sports sector for the development of sports including tapping of sports talent in the region.
