Sports facilities-More needs to be done

The inauguration of several sports facilities by the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Friday has yet again demonstrated the efforts of the incumbent regime to uplift the sporting culture in the Union Territory. However, there are a number of steps that need to be taken to increase the sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir to provide a better platform to the youth so that they can compete with any sportsman, hailing from outside the Union Territory. There is a dire need of enhancing the sports facilities as the youth have been deprived of these facilities by the successive regimes, thus pushing them to the wall. The unhealthy habits that could be witnessed among the youth is the main outcome of the lack of sports facilities as in absence of playgrounds and other facilities, the youth got easily involved in other unlawful things that not only deteriorated their health, but also left their families to lurch at large. In the efforts to increase the sports infrastructure, the Chief Secretary has e-inaugurated the synthetic lawn tennis court at M.A Stadium, Jammu; Yoga Wellness Centre & Yoga Park at M.A Stadium, Jammu; and installation of high mast lights at 6 sports stadiums for conducting day & night tournaments. The unprecedented boost to sporting infrastructure is aimed at promoting sporting culture in the Union territory; proactively engaging youth in sports and fitness activities; and identifying the raw local talent for further training and transformation into international caliber athletes. Moreover, the government should identify already existing fields, being used for sports by the youth and ensure all the basic facilities at these places to ensure that the youth is not pushed to the wall. Such actions and measures would not only ensure better facilities to the youth, but would also help the government initiative of ‘Mission Waapsi’, which has been launched in wake of the rise in drug menace and bring back the involved youth to normal track.