( MoU signing ceremony )
Guwahati: Government of Assam inked an MoU with Abhinav Futuristics Pvt. Limited, Oil India Limited and Numaligarh Refinery Limited in the presence of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for the establishment of two high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centres in Guwahati and Jorhat at a function held in Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on March 30.
It may be noted that the MoU was signed between the Government of Assam and Abhinav Futuristics Pvt. Ltd for the centre in Guwahati. While the MoU was signed between the Government of Assam and Oil India Limited, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited for establishing the high-performance sports training and rehabilitation Centre in Jorhat.
Each high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centre will be established at a projected cost of Rs 23.78 crore with an additional operational maintenance cost of approximately Rs 2.49 crores. The State Government will fund the expenses of the Guwahati centre, while Oil India Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Ltd will contribute their CSR towards the Jorhat centre.
While presiding over the MoU signing ceremony, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Sarma said that the high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centres are the latest additions in building high-quality sports infrastructure in the State. He said that the high-performance sports training centres would bring about qualitative improvement in the sporting landscape of the State. CM Dr Himanta Sarma also said that the physical fitness of the youth is an important aspect of showing high performance in sports. Therefore, high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centres will go a long way in achieving an important milestone in excelling in sports.
The Chief Minister also said that operations of the centres are an important segment as the State Government has involved Abhinav Futuristics Pvt. Ltd. for running the centres for five years. During this period, the State Government will create its own expertise for running these centres. Exuding confidence over the outcome of the sports training centres, Dr Himanta Sarma said that all the athletes of the State should come forward to take help from this centres to enhance their competence, set their standards and contribute to the excellence of sports.
Outlining the State Government’s commitment to the promotion of sports and the improvement of its quality, CM Dr Himanta Sarma said that last year his Government spent Rs. 1000 crore for creating sports infrastructure across the State. He also said that to give adequate opportunity for the sports talents at the grass root. The State Government will organise block-level sports events in five identified disciplines. The winners will be competing at the district level and then at the State level. This Khel Moharon will be held to present the much-needed exposure to the sports talents of Assam. He also said that the State Government is also in the process of drafting a new Sports Policy, which will exclusively cover the entire life of an athlete.
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Sarma thanked Olympian Abhinav Bindra, OIL and NRL for their help in coming forward to establish high-performance sports training and rehabilitation centres in Assam.
Olympic Gold Medallist Abhinav Bindra, while speaking on occasion hailed the initiative of the Government in setting up the training centres in the State. He thanked Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for leading the State from the front in creating high-quality sports infrastructure in Assam. He said that besides looking after the operations of the centres, his organisation would also provide free medical facilities, including surgery to any athlete who picks up an injury. His organisation will help the athletes to imbibe Olympic values in them so that they can become a strong ambassador for the promotion of sports and their values in the State.
Dr Himanta Sarma on the occasion, also felicitated Lovlina Borgohain for her stupendous feat in winning the Gold medal in Boxing World Championships.
Director of Sports and Youth Welfare Nibedan Das Patowary signed the MoU on behalf of the Government of Assam, and Olympian Abhinav Bindra signed the same on behalf of Abhinav Futuristics Pvt. Limited. Similarly, Chief General Manager (HR) OIL, Ranjan Goswami, signed the MoU for OIL and CGM (HR) NRL Kajal Saikia signed the MoU for NRL. Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Bora, CMD OIL Dr Ranjit Rath, MD NRL Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, Additional Chief Secretary Sports and Youth Welfare Maninder Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha and other dignitaries, including some budding players were present on the occasion.
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