Emphasising the importance of sports in one's life, saansad khel is providing a platform to hidden talents, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.
"Sports that were completely neglected previously are now giving a new recognition to India internationally," he said.
He went on to say that India has got the opportunity to chair the G-20 meetings in view of this, the launch of Saansad Khel Mahakumbh is significant in Agra through the G-20 Symbolic Marathon.
The chief minister said that last year, about 26,000 candidates had participated in 22 sports events through the saansad khel while this year, 34 sports events were being organised. He said that the state government had taken several steps to encourage sports and sportspersons.
A financial reward of Rs 6 crore is provided by the government for winning a gold medal in Olympics, Rs 4 crore for winning a silver medal and Rs 2 crore for winning a bronze medal whereas in terms of team games in Olympics, a prize money of Rs 3 crore is awarded for gold medal, Rs 2 crore for silver and Rs 1 crore for bronze, he pointed out.
In the Asian Games, a prize of Rs 3 crore is given for the gold medal, Rs 1.5 crore for the silver and Rs 75 lakh for the bronze medal. The state government also honours medal winners in World Cup and Commonwealth Games. Cash prizes are also given to the participating players of the state in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
The chief minister said at present the process of making sports grounds was going on in all the 58,000 gram panchayats of the state while land had been reserved for it in 34,000 gram panchayats. Besides, he said, the process of making mini stadiums at the block level was underway on a war footing. He said the process of providing sports kits by forming Yuvak Mandal Dal and Mahila Mandal Dal in all revenue villages was also progressing fast.
Former Union Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that in the rule of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the goons and mafia were running away from Uttar Pradesh to find shelter in Rajasthan. He said the government of Rajasthan was giving protection to them, but soon the Bharatiya Janata Party government would be formed there too and such elements would be wiped out.