SHILLONG, MAR 24: Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs minister Zenith Sangma said lack of experts in the sports department is one of the reasons as to why the Sports Policy of the state has not been framed.
Replying to a cut motion moved by NPP legislator James K Sangma on Tuesday, the minister said, “There are no experts in the department who is really competent enough to come up with Sports and Youth Policy in the state.”
The minister informed that the department has also constituted a committee to do extensive study by involving state resource group drawn from Sports Associations of different disciplines. He said, “However, the committee have not come up with any recommendation or suggestions and the policy is still pending.”
Informing that the department is approaching a group of experts from IIM, the minister said the department is thinking of outsourcing experts for making the policy which when completed will be implemented accordingly.
While moving the cut motion, James Sangma said the sports department needs a lot of introspection and re-look as to what it really wants. Stating a lot of infrastructures have come up but were unutilized, he said, “The tennis court in Polo, although constructed has not been utilized and I find it ridiculous as it is being used for boxing championship.”
Alleging that the state government is not serious in developing sports in the state, which has lots of potentials, James said, “This government seems only interested on promoting some contractors but not to train and develop the youths or bring coaches from abroad and outside.”
James also allegd the sports and youth affairs department is helping contractors by bringing new schemes which end up like the tennis court at Polo. According to him, when grant is so huge for the Sports and Youth Affairs, the department has to justify how this money is being used to help the youths to become not national but international sportsmen.
Taking part in the debate, UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh said as Meghalaya has a sizeable youth population, the state government however has not paid attention to their development.
Mawthoh said that the sports associations find it a problem to get financial assistance as it has become a difficult for getting the assistance as one has to know a minister which in turn is selective in granting financial aid.
Mawthoh also raised the issue of meager allocation of only Rs 2.50 lakh to legislators for youth development. He said if government wants peace, security and development, it has to take investment in youth seriously. – By Our Reporter
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