Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 2 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday reviewed the functioning of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department at the State Secretariat and issued a series of directives aimed at strengthening sports infrastructure, improving athlete support systems, and accelerating ongoing projects across the state.
During the review meeting, the Chief Minister directed officials to complete the process of granting out-of-turn government appointments to medal-winning athletes from national-level competitions within the stipulated timeline. He further instructed that a majority of such appointed sportspersons should, wherever possible, be accommodated within the Sports Department itself to ensure better utilisation of sporting talent in administrative and coaching roles.
Emphasising the need for a modern and integrated sports framework, Dhami said that Uttarakhand’s upcoming Sports Policy must be aligned with the Union Government’s National Sports Policy 2025. He also directed that the academic session at the Uttarakhand State Sports University in Golapar, Haldwani, should commence from next month. Along with this, he called for expediting the admission process as well as the recruitment of coaches, staff and other officials for both the university and the associated stadium complex.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the progress of the “One Block, One Mini Stadium” initiative and instructed officials to fast-track its implementation. He stressed that mini stadium projects must be completed in a time-bound manner to ensure wider access to sports infrastructure at the grassroots level. Officials informed the meeting that 48 mini stadiums have already been completed, while construction work on 10 others is currently underway, with land transfer processes progressing for additional projects.
Reviewing the state’s Legacy Plan, Dhami directed officials to ensure faster execution and optimal utilisation of existing sports infrastructure. He specifically referred to facilities developed at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Dehradun, Golapar Stadium in Haldwani, Rudrapur Velodrome, Tehri Lake, as well as stadiums in Haridwar and Pithoragarh. He also emphasised the importance of proper maintenance and long-term upkeep of infrastructure created during the 38th National Games, directing officials to prepare a comprehensive maintenance roadmap.
The Chief Minister further stated that preparations for the 39th National Games in 2027 should begin immediately. He called for the organisation of specialised training camps across various sports disciplines and directed officials to intensify the identification and selection of talented athletes in coordination with sports associations. He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving Uttarakhand’s performance at the upcoming National Games and establishing the state as a leading sporting hub.
Under the “One District, One Sport” initiative, Dhami instructed officials to strengthen coaching facilities, talent identification programmes and competitive ecosystems across all districts. He added that each district sports hostel should be developed as an ODOS Sports Nursery for its designated sport, ensuring structured development of young athletes at the grassroots level.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that under the out-of-turn appointment policy, 29 medal-winning athletes have already been provided with government jobs so far. They also stated that significant progress has been made under the mini stadium initiative, along with continued work on land allocation for upcoming projects.
The meeting also highlighted ongoing work at India’s first residential sports college for women at Lohaghat, where construction is progressing rapidly. Officials informed that 16 posts have been created for the institution, and the admission process is currently underway.
Additionally, the Chief Minister was apprised of the progress at the Uttarakhand State Sports University in Golapar, Haldwani, the first state sports university in Uttarakhand and the tenth in the country, where development work on 39 key infrastructure components is underway. These include an auditorium, central library, health centre, cafeteria, research centre, shooting range, seminar hall, badminton hall, football ground, hockey ground and an eight-lane athletics track. (ANI)
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