NEW DELHI: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports and Transport, Satish Sharma, today met with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and projected several issues and initiatives related to sports upgradation aiming transformation of Jammu and Kashmir into a national hub of sports excellence.
The Minister submitted a comprehensive Memorandum outlining an ambitious, multi-sectoral roadmap to upgrade sports infrastructure, promote youth engagement, generate employment and position Jammu and Kashmir as a premier destination for sports tourism and high-performance training.
Highlighting cricket as a passion for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Satish Sharma sought sanction of international-standard cricket stadiums at Srinagar and Jammu. He stated that the absence of such facilities has long restricted the region from hosting national and international fixtures. He emphasized that these stadiums would not only revive top level cricket in the UT but also boost tourism and inspire a new generation of athletes.
The Minister also proposed creation of a Border Sports Development Circuit spanning Kathua–Samba, Akhnoor–Chhamb, Poonch–Nowshera–Rajouri, Uri–Baramulla–Kupwara and Karnah–Gurez, aimed at harnessing the sporting talent of youth living in border and far-flung areas. He sought special grants for development of Dangal Akharas, cycling tracks, hockey and football fields besides provision of sports equipment in all border panchayats to strengthen grassroots sports and youth engagement.
To promote employment through sports, Satish Sharma requested for a financial support of ₹600 crore over five years for establishing 10 Border Sports & Employment Hubs (BS-EH), five each in Jammu and Kashmir, equipped with multi-sport facilities, skill training classrooms and residential infrastructure. He also proposed a Border Youth Sports Apprenticeship Programme with an outlay of ₹300 crore, a Coaches & Trainers Wage Support Scheme of ₹150 crore and a High-Altitude & Winter Sports Livelihood Programme of ₹120 crore for areas like Gurez, Tangdhar and Teetwal.
The Minister laid special emphasis on water and winter sports, seeking establishment of a National Water Sports Centre of Excellence at Basohli (Kathua) by upgrading the world-class facility at Ranjit Sagar Dam. He also proposed declaring Jammu & Kashmir as India’s National Hub for Paddle and Water Sports, leveraging its unparalleled natural water resources.
Satish Sharma further sought revival of the Arun Jaitley International Cricket Stadium Project at Hiranagar, whose upgradation had been sanctioned earlier but stalled due to external impediments. He requested the Union Ministry’s intervention to remove obstacles and ensure completion of the project, calling it a landmark for the Jammu region.
To optimally utilise the growing sports infrastructure in J&K, the Minister proposed a Special Coaches Engagement Scheme for hiring qualified national and international-level coaches on contract basis, especially in priority disciplines like gymnastics, water sports, winter sports and cricket. He also called for regularisation and utilisation of registered NYCs as a skilled human resource base in sports.
Recognising the need for quality accommodation to host national and international sporting events, Satish Sharma sought development of modern Youth Hostels at Jammu and Srinagar under the Khelo India framework to boost sports tourism and training capacity.
Satish Sharma also called for expediting the long-pending National Winter Sports Centre of Excellence at Gulmarg, seeking direct facilitation for engagement of international consultants and release of funds to the J&K Sports Council to kick-start this landmark project.
Speaking on the occasion, Satish Sharma said that Jammu and Kashmir has immense untapped sporting potential and world-class natural advantages. “With focused national support, our youth can become champions on the global stage while sports can become a powerful engine of employment, tourism and regional development,” he said.
The Minister expressed confidence that the proposals, aligned with the Khelo India vision and National Sports Development Agenda, would help establish Jammu and Kashmir as a leading sporting destination and talent hub of India.
