New international standard stadium will come up at Chandrapur

CM hands over Sports Pension

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has awarded a regular sports pension of Rs 10,000 per month to 99 sportspersons and a one-time financial award of Rs 50,000 to 153 sportspersons at a function in the city on Friday. Two medal winners from World championships — Archer Sanjoy Boro and boxer Jamuna Boro — also received appointment letters in the same function as Excise Inspectors under State Sports Policy.

The Pension Award Ceremony, 2021-22 was organized at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra under the aegis of Sports and Youth Welfare Department marking the celebrations of the 85th birth anniversary of Arjuna Bhogeswar Barua, the first Assamese athlete to have won a gold medal in the 1966 Asian Games at Bangkok. In the ceremony, Governor Jagdish Mukhi was the chief guest while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, two of his cabinet colleagues – Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Bimal Borah and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya – and Bhogewsar Barua were also present.

Wishing Arjun Bhogeswar Barua on his 85th birthday, the Chief Minister said that his life and achievement would continue to inspire our upcoming generations. Barua was also felicitated in the meeting.

In the programme, Chief Minister and other dignitaries ceremonially handed over the pension letters to the 13 sportspersons, including Hima Das, Elvis Ali Hazarika, Krishna Hazarika, Pwilao Basumatary, Arup Kumar Sangma, Dipa Choudhury, Ananya Banerjee, Nafisa Sadiq, Mita Sinha Roy, K Rajen Singh, Sanjiv Boro, Sanjiva Rongpi and Paragdhar Konwar.

Assam government is going to provide a series of facilities to the sportspersons in the coming days. Sarma in his speech said: "To promote a suitable sports ecosystem in the State, the Assam Government will reserve a certain percentage of State Government jobs for sportspersons under modified State Sports Policy. The government is also planning to provide pension to medal winners in National championship."

He today announced that a new international standard stadium will come up in the erstwhile Chandrapur Thermal Power Plant premises and the government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for that during this financial year.

The Assam Government has already taken a series of steps to develop sports infrastructure across the state and kept Rs 1000-crore budget provision for this purpose. Informing that apart from building sports complex worth Rs 12 crore in 52 LACs, more such complexes would come up 40 additional LACs. The Government is also constructing multipurpose stadiums in 10 districts with a cost of Rs 50 crore each.

The Chief Minister in his speech also announced that the government will appoint coaches for different stadiums across the State and non-profit state-level sports academies would be provided financial grants from the government.

Sarma also appreciated the efforts of sports organizer Balendra Mohan Chakrabarty for organizing Abhiruchi Sports Day, which is celebrated on September 3 to mark the birthday of Bhogeswar Barua, for the last 38 years.

In his brief speech, Governor Mukhi while greeting Arjun Bhogeswar Barua on his birthday, requested him to continue his role for mentoring sports persons and popularizing sports in the state. He said that it would be a fitting tribute to Arjun Bhogeswar Barua if the youth of the state take a pledge to work hard with utmost discipline and dedication to ignite the fire in them and excel in sports.

The Governor said, "Sports are vital for the overall development of a nation. It guides the youth away from negativity by bringing out the best in their physical and mental goodness and fueling their passion for excellence".

He also said that though cricket is very popular in India, the country of late made strong strides in various other disciplines. "Our athletes' shining performances at many international events, including the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics is a testimony to our impressive march in other sports", the Governor added.

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