ABSCs to come up in Regimental Centres: Jitendra Singh

Bouyed by the state-of-the-art facilities at the Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) in Pune, Minister of state for Defence Jitendra Singh today said such centres would be established at every regimental centre.
Singh said his Ministry has worked out the modalities with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to establish centres like ABSC in the Indian Air Force and Navy.
"I was amazed by Army Boys Sports Company in Pune. The facilities there...They had sports medicine, foreign coaches, latest equipments. We have now multiplied the ABSC into ten times. Over the next few years, we will have ABSCs at every regimental centres and centre of exellence," Singh told reporters here.

"This was only limited to the Indian Army. Now, it will also be included in the Indian Air Force and Navy. We have worked on the MoU between SAI and Ministry of Defense. There one would have access to the best facilities that the Indian army and the defense has," he added.
Singh was speaking about the linkages between the Youth Affairs Ministry and Defence Ministry on the occasion of the launching of the National Youth Policy 2014 and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan programme.
Singh, who is also holding the independent charge of the Sports Ministry, said that his ministry was looking to recruit 15 lakh NCC student in the next two years.

"There is a waiting list of 6,000 schools which are willing to have NCC in their schools. The first initiative which we have taken is to wipe out this backlog. We are increasing the numbers and allocated more budget for it. Now, we want to have 15 lakh NCC student. In next two years, we will be able to reduce this backlog by 50 per cent. We have worked out all the detail and we are running a pilot project," he said.

Elaborating further about his plans of linkages, Singh said different youth organisations are holding camps in remotest of Naxal areas and disturbed regions in the North East.

"The linkages are very important. Another such linkage which we have taken is National Youth Policy. Youth organisations are holding camps in remotest of areas in the North East, some in the left wing areas like Chhattissgarh, Odisa, parts of Bihar -- areas where youngsters are affected by left wing extremism.
"Increase the intake of people in the Indian army, Air Force and Navy from those poor areas. That is our focus areas for our ministry for the youth of the country," he said.