Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 15: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has strongly emphasized the urgent need for the development and upgradation of sports fields and sports infrastructure at the village, ward, block/Tehsil, and regional levels across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
During his extensive tours to various Municipal Wards, villages, Tehsils, and blocks in the islands, the MP stated that a large number of youths, budding sportspersons including girls along with PRI Members and Ward Councillors, have consistently brought to his notice the acute lack of proper sports and games facilities in their respective areas.
The MP highlighted that while playgrounds both levelled and unlevelled exist in most villages, wards, blocks, and Tehsils, they are devoid of essential modern infrastructure such as indoor stadiums, multipurpose indoor halls, tennis and badminton courts, basketball courts, synthetic athletic tracks, and adequate floodlighting facilities. Due to the absence of such facilities, many young sportspersons are unable to actively pursue sports or develop their talents.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray expressed serious concern that the lack of sports infrastructure is discouraging youths from engaging in healthy and constructive activities, leading some towards drug addiction and other social evils, which poses a significant social challenge for the islands.
The MP recalled that he had earlier urged PRI Members and officials of the Sports Department to project proposals for the creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure in District Planning Committee (DPC) meetings. Although such demands were raised multiple times in DPC meetings, no concrete proposals have been submitted so far to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India. This is despite the Ministry’s expressed willingness to provide financial assistance under central schemes such as Khelo India, especially considering the limited financial capacity of the UT Administration to develop modern sports infrastructure on its own.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray further informed that he has personally discussed the matter with Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Ji, Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, who has consented in principle to extend financial support under schemes like Khelo India – National Sports Development Fund.
In this context, the MP has formally requested the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, to direct the Sports Department to immediately assess the requirements for the creation and upgradation of sports and games facilities at all levels regional, block/Tehsil, village, and ward in consultation with PRI Members, Ward Councillors, eminent sports specialists, and Tribal Councils. He has urged that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) with financial estimates be prepared and urgently submitted to the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, for one-time financial assistance.
The MP clarified that while the creation of infrastructure may be supported through central funding, the recurring expenditure towards maintenance can be managed by the respective Municipal bodies, PRIs, and the Sports Department, depending on the ownership and title of the land or sports facilities.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has requested that the matter be treated as urgent in the larger interest of youth development, sports promotion, and social well-being in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.