JAMMU: To transform Jammu and Kashmir into a sporting hub capable of producing international-level athletes, the government has allocated a significant budget for sports in 2025.
The 2025 budget reaffirms the government’s commitment to making J&K an elite sporting state/UT, with sports receiving its highest-ever allocation.
To deliberate on budget announcements and review the department’s activities and achievements, Commissioner/Secretary of Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, chaired a meeting of officers in his office chamber today.
The meeting discussed budget provisions and their strategic implementation in letter and spirit. Key budget announcements include:
Engaging 75 lakh youth in sports activities across J&K.
Establishing National Centres of Excellence for Water Sports at Dal Lake (Srinagar) and Basohli (Jammu).
Setting up a Gymnastics Academy at Gindun Rajbagh and Khel Gaon Nagrota.
Establishing four state-of-the-art Cricket Academies with a budgetary allocation of ₹8 crore.
Constructing two new Youth Hostels, one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions, with an allocation of ₹10 crore.
Developing high-performance training centres in all districts in a phased manner to enhance athletes’ training and performance.
Hosting national and international sports events, including the 9th Aerobic Asian Championship in 2025 and the Rafting World Cup in Kashmir, with a separate provision of ₹4.5 crore.
Conducting a football exchange programme.
Empowering coaches through specialized capacity-building programmes, including the Football Development Programme and the World Coach Programme.
Developing 247 playfields, stadiums, and sports courts.
Constructing and upgrading 19 sports buildings across the region.
Procuring sports equipment and generators for stadiums.
Allocating ₹150 crore for sports infrastructure development.
Commissioning two swimming pools, one in each capital city.
Creating sports facilities for migrants and promoting the involvement of rural and tribal populations in sports.
Establishing 100 Khelo India Centres.
Additionally, the meeting discussed the Water Sports Festival, which will be jointly organized by the J&K Sports Council in April in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
The enhancement of honorariums and refreshment allowances for players was also reviewed.
Prominent attendees included Rajinder Singh Tara, Director General of Youth Services and Sports; Jyoti Rani Slathia, Special Secretary YSS; Ashok Kumar Khajuria, Director of Finance YSS; Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council; Ashiq Bhat, Joint Director Planning; Ravi Kumar, Deputy Director Planning YSS; Jitender Mishra, Deputy Director Central; and Nitin Hangloo, representative of NYK.
