Manipur to have first national sports university at Rs 643.34 crore total sanctioned cost

NEW DELHI: The first national Sports University of the country has been allocated to the northeast state of Manipur at a total sanctioned cost of Rs.643.34 crore, minister of youth affairs and sports Anurag Singh Thakur said.

In an oral reply to a Parliament question on sports infrastructure facilities in the northeast region, the minister said that the sports infrastructure in the north-eastern region has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the last nine years. With the shift from 'Look East Policy' to 'Act East Policy,' Thakur added, the government has given special emphasis and impetus to sports infrastructure in the North-east region.

Also Read | CBSE ties up with 15 organizations to promote skill education, training of teachers

Of the 1,000 Khelo India centres set to be dedicated to the country this year itself, as many as 227 Khelo India Centres are being established in the North-east, the minister added.

The ministry has also approved 75 sports infrastructure projects at a combined sanctioned cost of Rs.520.60 crore Thakur added, saying that three national centres of excellence, 12 SAI Training Centres and 22 Khelo India accredited Sports Academies are already functional in the North-Eastern States, he said.

Highlighting the contribution of the north-east to sports, the minister said that sportspersons hailing from the north east have brought laurels to the country especially women sportspersons like Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain. He also hailed the contribution of sportspersons Bhaichung Bhutia and Shiva Thapa.

Also Read | Strategy for dropouts; sports quota; common entrance test in IIT Council discussions

Speaking further, Thakur said that government, under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), is supporting athletes under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for many of their foreign training camps, including costs incurred for travel, and lodging among other expenditures.

He also remarked that all essential steps are being taken to support the NE States, and the Government is positively and continuously sanctioning the proposals received from the NE, including Nagaland. Under Khelo India Scheme, the second Khelo India Games were held in Guwahati, he added.