Hopefully, the various sports associations of Jharkhand will no longer face financial crunch as State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Department will finalize the formalities of their applications concerning fund from the government side.
State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Department Secretary Vandana Dadel department on Thursday said, “Somehow this request has been delaying. But, now we are almost done with our discussion to provide certain grants to state sports associations. On September 11, a final decision shall be taken.”
Ahead of the 35 National Games scheduled at Kerala in February 2014, sports associations like Jharkhand Athletics Association, Jharkhand lawn Tennis Association and Jharkhand Rifle Association are grooming their candidates by organizing state to national level competitions under the aegis of their national federation.
“The problem due to lack of funds for past three years is troubling us as we cannot conduct big camps for training our deserving players of all ages within our financial limits. It might affect their performance,” said JAA President Madhukant Pathak.
On the other hand, SM Thakur, Secretary General of Jharkhand Rifle Association said, “Even the so called sponsorships from Corporate Houses are no more a fund generation option for us. These private company people have stopped helping. Inspite of this hurdle, we are carrying out the trainings. After all, it is our moral responsibility to coach the talented players, be whatever the problem.”
Notably, State Arts, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs department, had held a meeting with the sports associations on June 24 and had then declared sanctioning certain grants to the game associations of Jharkhand. As many as 12 associations registered under the Jharkhand Olympic Association and five NGOs had applied for this grant.
State Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Director Ashok Kumar had then said that they will be taking a final decision on this matter within 15 days. “Unfortunately, the formation of a proper government from President’s rule on July 13 postponed the initiative,” Kumar told The Pioneer few days back.
According to the meeting of June which was coincidently the first meeting on 35 National Games preparations, special training camps ahead of the upcoming national games were supposed to be organised at Ranchi in three phases from August onwards.
He had also added, “The first phase will be for 15 days. Those who qualify the first phase will be trained for 40 days in the second phase followed with the selection at the third phase of 20 to 21 days training, which is to be the final selection for National Games.”
Depending upon the type of the game, the routine of the camp was to be planned by October. Reliable sources of sports association are hoping for the final one to eight participating teams from Jharkhand by December month. The sports association’s people had also requested Dadel and Kumar to allow their players practice in the available Mega Sports Hub at Hotwar so that the stadiums and particular sports equipments can be utilised which at present is in bad conditions.