GUWAHATI: Sports organisers in Meghalaya have hailed the Assam government’s announcement to provide Rs 10 crore to the Meghalaya government, which is gearing up to host the National Games in 2022.
In a goodwill gesture, the Assam finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, while presenting the Assam Budget 2019-20 at the Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday announced that a solidarity fund of Rs 10crore will be provided to Meghalaya to help the state prepare for the multi-discipline sports event.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday, Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) working president, John F. Kharshiing said, “We are indeed grateful and welcome such a first of its kind initiative in India where a neighbouring state is contributing to its sister state and joining in the successful hosting of the National Games, which belongs to all citizens of the country.”
This brilliant decision by the Assam government, Kharshiing said, is a fitting tribute to the memory of all the great sportspersons of the Northeast as the 2022 National Games is being hosted in the region.
“The challenges in the past where states find difficulty in hosting the National Games as per schedule should be a matter of serious concern to the Centre which must take the responsibility of ensuring that the necessary international standard infrastructure and adequate coaching support are made available in each and every state so as to reach the podium Olympic,” he said.
“Our mission in the MSOA is now to target Olympic podium in the years to come and hosting the National Games is one step towards that objective, besides creating a sport-loving healthy eco-system for the people of Meghalaya. We thank the Assam Government for the support towards the hosting of the National Games 2022. We look forward to the details of the grant,” the MSOA working president said.
Meghalaya reportedly has a tentative budgeted outlay of Rs 1,505crore to prepare for and organise the National Games in 2022.
“However, on the other hand, we are disappointed with the central budget as we expected a quantum increase in the allocation by the sports ministry. There should be a MGNREGA-like scheme for sports only. The Centre should allocate adequate funds for creating world-class infrastructure in the state hosting National Games if it is serious for podium Olympic. It should allocate, create and support a sports development corpus fund of Rs 500 crore in every state. It’s only when we broaden the pyramid at the bottom will we be able to find Olympians,” Kharshiing added.
Meghalaya Cricket Association secretary and expert member, Meghalaya State Planning Board, Naba Bhattacharjee termed the Assam government’s announcement “a good gesture, if bereft of any strings tied and comes without a rider.”
“Hopefully, the solidarity initiative is not linked to the current issue, which is against interest of the indigenous population and rightly opposed in Meghalaya,” Bhattacharjee said, referring to the ongoing movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.