State Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Central Coalfields limited for setting up first Sports University in Jharkhand to provide thrust to budding sportsmen of Jharkhand. The MoU signed between the Government and the coal company would institutionalise sports activities besides leveraging the sports infrastructure available for providing a launch pad for great career across various sports.
The MoU was signed by Sports Secretary Avinash Kumar and General Manager (CSR) of CCl, J Tiwari in the presence of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Chief Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, Minster Sports, Amar Kumar Bauri and CMD, CCl, Gopal Singh at Hotel BNR. The CM expressed the benefits that would be bestowed on Jharkhand due the sports university with the vast talent pool available in the State.
“Our players have made a mark in sports like archery and hockey. We can say that there are around 25 games where our youths have earned name on national and international arena. This university is a blessing for 1.32-crore youths of the State,” said Das.
On the historic moment for the State, the CM praised the efforts of the Sports Minister and CCl for moving in the direction of setting up a dedicated facility in the field of sports which would hone talents of Eklavyas of Jharkhand the way Dhronacharya, legendary mythological character from Mahabharata, sharpened up the latent talents of his era. Das also suggested that Jharkhand is a State where sporting stars are self-made in the absence of any great teacher. “Jharkhand is a land of Eklavya where people like Dronacharya are required. This sports university would play the part of Dronacharya,” added Das.
Around 1400 youths will be imparted training besides education in sports discipline. Of the total strength, 50 per cent seats (700) will be reserved for the students of Jharkhand who will be given free of cost training shared in equal proportions by the Government and CCl whereas remaining seats will be filled from rest of the country. Around 700 students will be inducted from across the country including aspirants from Jharkhand who would enjoy concession of 25 per cent in the tuition fee.
The only university of its kind in Jharkhand is projected to synchronise changes and best practices at international level with the grooming activities of athletes of Jharkhand at the university which will be set up at Hotwar Sports Complex. Minister Sports, Amar Bauri emphasised the need to keep pace with international benchmarks in the field of sports.
“Now there is a need to get acquainted with revolutionary changes taking place at international level. This is the first occasion when scientific activities used to improve performance would be used in Jharkhand,” said Bauri.
Bauri said the university would create trainers and stressed upon the need to provide employment avenues to the passouts of the university with Government and CCl to help them in sustenance.
The Minister also said that the Sports Secretary and Sports Director will go to Patiala to explore the possibilities of creating an effective curriculum for various courses that will be offered at the university.
The Sports University will be setup at Hotwar Sports Complex and the mammoth infrastructure that was created for 2009 National Games will get a facelift through maintenance works which will is one component of the MoU.
The governing body of the University would be headed by Chief Secretary. CMD of CCl would be deputy-chairman while secretaries of Sports, Finance, Human Resource Development, officials from CCl and Coal India limited, two male and female sportspersons of international and national repute would chip in as members of the body.
The CCl CMD Gopal Singh said if youths of Jharkhand are presented with an opportunity then many international stars can be created and also that the university will facilitate entry of marginalized sections of society into the mainstream for their holistic development.
Incidentally, the idea of setting up Sports Academy and University was conceived during the visit of Minister of State for Coal (Independent Charge), Piyush Goel in May when the visiting Minister had held talks with the CM about setting the two facilities in Jharkhand.