Stairs, an NGO working towards empowerment of underprivileged youth through sports, education and health, on Saturday launched its flagship programme ‘Hockey for Growth.’ In this endeavour it has gathered support from former Hockey India captain and Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey.
Stairs started the initiative from Odisha with the distribution of 400 Hockey sticks to players from rural areas of Odisha. As a part of ‘Hockey for Growth’ programme, Stairs will distribute 1 lahk Hockey sticks among underprivileged youth across the country.
Speaking on the occasion Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surjya Narayan Patro said, “Odisha has produced some of the world’s best hockey players like Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey to name a few. With Stairs’s Hockey for Growth programme collaborating with Dr Tirkey, I am positive that hockey will soon witness resurgence. We are all hopeful that together Stairs and Hockey Gangpur established by Dilip Tirkey can help develop and promote more talent in the State.” Sports and Youth Services Secretary Saswat Mishra was also present on the occasion.