If everything goes as planned then chairperson of Reliance Foundation (the CSR arm of Reliance Industries), Nita Ambani, will help the State in developing the soccer skills of boys and girls through ‘Kamal (lotus) Clubs’ at panchayat level.
State sports, youth affairs and tourism minister Amar Kumar Bauri who was in city on a personal visit at Circuit House on Monday said that it is ambitious project and they are looking forward to make it success as the Reliance Industries board member had expressed interest about the Kamal Clubs and would be coming to the state soon.
“We have contacted Nita Ambani ji and would invite her to the state after the registration process of Kamal Clubs in all the 4402 panchayats in the state. We have informed her about the Kamal Clubs and her support and presence would be pivotal for the success of the projects amongst the rural youths,” said the Minister.
The Minister however denied that naming of the clubs has anything to do with ruling party (BJP) symbol. “lotus is our national flower symbolis\ing victory and knowledge and it has nothing to do with party’s symbol.
We want to wean away youths from social evils like addiction, and crimes through soccer which can be played easily without needing much infrastructure at rural,” said the minister.
Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani , is chairperson of Football Sports Development limited (FSDl), which conducts Indian Super league with an aim to create a platform for the development of grassroots football activity and talent-scouting across the country.
The ISl grassroots programme reached out to more than a million children across country and out of it selected children were brought to Mumbai for residential training with education.
Bauri went on to inform that the Kamal Clubs will function under Sports Authority of Jharkhand (SAJ) and will be registered under society registration Act from every panchayats of the state. As per the plans the BDOs will elect ad-hoc officials of the Kamal Clubs in consultations with elected Panchayat Raj Institution (PRIs) members for tenure of three years and will have to form a bank account and submit weekly report of their football activities to SAJ. We will be transferring money to each Kamal Club for kits and football nets etc. We also have attractive prize money for winners.