Punjab’s Youth Are Leaving Drugs Behind & Working Towards Becoming International Athletes: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday inaugurated 1,000 additional ‘Pendu Khed Maidan’ (rural sports grounds) across the state, taking the total number of inaugurated grounds to 1,764 out of the targeted 3,100. The initiative aims to encourage young people to take up sports and keep them away from drugs.

The inauguration ceremony was held at Shahpur village in the Amloh Assembly constituency of Fatehgarh Sahib district. Addressing the gathering, Mann said the state government was working to build a strong sports culture in Punjab by providing modern facilities to rural youth. He added that every sports ground would be equipped with kits for football, hockey, volleyball and cricket.

How Will the Sports Grounds Help Keep Youth Away From Drugs?

Mann said channelising the energy of young people towards sports was essential to protect them from drug abuse and provide them with a positive direction. He described the initiative as an important part of the government's campaign, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’.

According to the Chief Minister, the government is developing 3,100 model village sports grounds across Punjab. The first phase saw 255 grounds inaugurated on May 4, followed by another 509 on August 24. With 1,000 more grounds dedicated in the third phase, the project has reached a significant milestone. These include 93 grounds in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

What Facilities Will Be Available at These Grounds?

The sports grounds are being developed with several modern facilities, including six-foot-high chain-link fencing, green spaces, six-foot-wide walking tracks with footlights, separate toilets for men and women, and storerooms for sports equipment.

Submersible pumps and hydrants have also been installed to maintain the grass and plants. Children's play areas with swings, ladder bars and slides are being developed, while high-mast lights will allow people to use the facilities after sunset.

Selected grounds will also have six-lane, 400-metre running tracks. Facilities for popular games such as football, hockey and volleyball are being provided according to local requirements.

Will Villages Also Receive Free Sports Equipment and Coaching?

The Chief Minister said every village would receive sports equipment, including football and hockey goalposts, volleyball poles, two nets, three volleyballs, three footballs and cricket kits. Villages will also receive 36 pairs of football studs, while areas where cricket is popular will be provided with complete cricket kits.

He added that football and volleyball coaches would be deployed at all sports grounds to provide free training to young players. The aim is to ensure that children receive proper guidance and do not face financial barriers while pursuing sports.

Who Will Be Responsible for Maintaining the Grounds?

Mann said Gram Panchayats would oversee the maintenance of the sports grounds through dedicated village-level committees. These committees would include the Sarpanch, Youth Club President, concerned Junior Engineer and Panchayat Secretary. A woman member or sportsperson would also be nominated to the committee.

The Chief Minister said the responsibility of maintaining these facilities would rest with the village committees to ensure that the grounds remain functional and are regularly used by children and youngsters.

How Much Is Punjab Investing in Sports Development?

According to the government, ₹1,500 crore has been committed for developing 3,100 modern rural sports grounds across Punjab. The state has also allocated a record sports budget of ₹1,744 crore and is working on developing 600 rural gyms, of which 500 have reportedly been completed and inaugurated.

Under the Sports Policy introduced in 2023, prize money worth ₹135 crore has been distributed to 40,415 sportspersons since 2022. The government is also providing financial assistance of ₹15 lakh for Olympic preparation and ₹8 lakh for preparation for the Asian and Commonwealth Games.

The state is further promoting sporting events through ‘Khedan Wattan Punjab Diyan’, hosting the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy and organising the ‘She-e-Punjab T20 League’. Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond and other dignitaries were also present at the inauguration ceremony.