MPs across the country can now use their Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for augmenting and creating adequate sports infrastructure in their constituencies.
Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken said on March 2 that MPs now can use MPLADS funds for promoting sports under the Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) and Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) initiatives launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for addressing the problem of lack of adequate sports facilities in the country. While PYKKA was launched in 2008-09 for creation and development of basic sports facilities in all village and Block Panchayats of the country in a phased manner, the USIS began in 2010-11 for creation and development of sports infrastructure in urban areas.
Under PYKKA, grant of Rs one lakh and Rs five lakh is provided for creation of play fields in village Panchayats and Block Panchayats respectively. Under USIS, the level of assistance is about Rs five to six crore for creation of multipurpose halls, athletic tracks, football, hockey turfs, etc., It was felt by many MPs that the levels of financial assistance under the Schemes of PYKKA and USIS are not adequate for creating sufficient number of sports facilities in the country. Now MPs would be able to recommend under MPLADS works such as development of playfields including leveling of playgrounds in hilly areas, construction of boundary wall and durable assets in village Panchayats and Block Panchayats and recommend works such as multi-purpose halls, athletic tracks, football and hockey turfs in urban areas.
(FOC)
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