Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal has announced of releasing Rs 1.85 crore per block under Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) in Arunachal Pradesh.
The announcement came in response to a plea of the state's PWD Minister Gojen Gadi, who called on him at New Delhi yesterday to discuss strategies and fund allocation for encouraging hidden talents of the state in games and sports, an official release said here today.
Sonowal assured that all blocks of Arunachal Pradesh would be covered within the next five years under RGKA.
When Gadi sought his assistance citing examples of the state's national and international level medal winners in various sports categories that had prompted Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to announce ten per cent job reservation for sports persons, Sonowal said "I shall extend all possible help to promote sports activities in the state.
"I shall pursue Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari for early construction of the proposed Tawang-Vijoynagar road along the international border, besides other important road projects in the land-locked state."
It may be mentioned here that under the RGKA, each block is entitled to Rs 1.85 crore for sports infrastructure.
Moreover, rural competitions and mass participation sports programme are organised across the country every year for providing opportunities to young and old men and women of rural areas to participate in competitive sports.
The rural sports programme was started in 1970-71 and was being operated through the Sport Authority of India (SAI).
It was merged with the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) scheme during 2008-09 and was later on rechristened as RGKA.
