Port Blair, Oct 03: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Shri. Kudleep Rai Sharma has requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to increase fund allocation for the Department of Youth Affairs and to enhance Youth Infrastructure in these Islands.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, the Member of Parliament said that investing in the youth infrastructure of these Islands is vital to ensure that our young population not only remains physically and mentally fit but also excels in national and international level sporting events.
He mentioned that youths of these Islands have already achieved remarkable success despite the limited infrastructure currently available to them. However, in order to sustain and further nurture their talents, it is imperative that we take concrete steps to bolster our youth infrastructure.
In his letter he highlighted some key areas that require immediate attention:
Playground Development: There is a need to earmark additional playgrounds while preserving the existing ones. These Islands have already lost some prominent playgrounds like the VIP Road Ground (previously known as ITF Ground), Chandmari Ground, Chakkargaon Volleyball as well as cricket ground, Ajanta Mess Ground (near RBV School), Secretariat Ground (Now parking area) and hockey court inside the velodrome etc.
Gym Facilities: Presently, South Andaman has only one government gym, which is insufficient to cater to the needs of our young population. He proposed the construction of at least two more government gyms in each district. Additionally, the gyms provided by PBMC in every ward a decade ago are in a state of disrepair or have been closed. He requested to reopen these facilities to promote healthy living among our youths.
Swimming Pools: The accessibility of the swimming pool in Port Blair to the public is severely limited, with frequent closures. To promote swimming as an excellent exercise option, we must establish two public swimming pools in every district.
Floodlights for Nataji Stadium Ground and other Prominent Grounds at different Islands: To facilitate evening sports activities without concerns about lighting, it is essential to install floodlights at the Netaji Stadium Ground and other prominent grounds at different Islands. This will enable our youth to engage in sporting pursuits during evening hours, fostering a culture of fitness and recreation. As Netaji Stadium is centrally located, installing flood lights will attract hundreds of youths for sports activities. These grounds can also be used for organising district level and state level functions at evening hours, hence this will promote sports and cultural activities in all Islands.
Generator Backup for Netaji Stadium: The Netaji Stadium complex having ground, Gym, Multipurpose Hall, Swimming Pool, does not have a generator backup and hence during power cut, sports activities during evening hours remain suspended. If a generator is installed for Netaji Stadium the Gym, Multipurpose Hall, Swimming Pool would be able to function without breaks.
Multipurpose Hall: Presently only the Netaji Stadium complex is a multipurpose hall for indoor games like Badminton, Table Tennis and Volleyball. Similar Multipurpose Hall needs to be constructed for Nicobar District and N & M Andaman region.
Increased Funding: To facilitate youth development and sports activities, there is a pressing need to increase the allocation of funds. This will enable us to organize regular sporting events and other constructive activities that will keep our youth engaged and motivated.
The Member of Parliament requested the Hon’ble Lt. Governor’s support and intervention in addressing these crucial issues. He said that by investing in our youth infrastructure, we can empower the next generation to reach new heights of excellence and contribute positively to our society and the nation as a whole.
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