Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Saturday said engaging young people in both sports and education remains a priority for the state government, which is continuously working to strengthen sports infrastructure and provide better facilities for athletes.
Minister Highlights Role of Sports in Youth Development
He was speaking while presiding over a volleyball tournament organised by a local youth organisation in Batal village in the Jubbal-Nawar-Kotkhai Assembly constituency. Addressing the gathering, Thakur said sports, alongside education, play a vital role in the overall development of young people.
“Volleyball is a very popular sport in the mountainous regions, and sporting activities not only teach discipline, leadership and team spirit, but also keep young people away from social evils such as drug addiction. The regular organisation of such sports competitions is essential for building a healthy and strong society,” he said.
Government Increases Athlete Diet Allowance
Thakur said the government had increased the diet allowance for athletes from Rs 120 to Rs 220 per day. “Furthermore, arrangements have been made to honour athletes who excel at the national and international levels,” he added.
The minister said the establishment of the Thakur Ramlal Government Girls Sports School in Jubbal was a significant achievement of the state government, with training facilities available in eight sports, including volleyball. “The Cabinet recently approved 32 new posts for the better functioning of the sports hostel,” he said.
Development Projects in Jubbal-Nawar-Kotkhai
Speaking about development initiatives in the constituency, Thakur said the state government was committed to balanced and comprehensive development across Himachal Pradesh. “Over the past three years, the Jubbal-Nawar-Kotkhai Assembly constituency has been setting new standards of development. Projects worth crores of rupees have either been completed or are progressing rapidly across various areas. About 181 new roads have been constructed and approved in the Assembly constituency,” he said.
On the occasion, the Education Minister also announced an incentive grant of Rs 50,000 for the local youth organisation to promote sporting activities.
