Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that the sports policy is ready and it would be soon kept before the cabinet for approval after which youth of the state would get an opportunity to showcase their talent.
Speaking after distributing appointment letters among the newly appointed district sports officers at the project building he that the state government was also planning to launch a portal before Durga Puja where players, trained referees, retired sportspersons would be able to share their complete information.
He said that some of the youths are demanding for direct recruitment which has been done in the past however recently many children have showcased their performance and it should be made sure that they are not left behind so a time of one month has been given so that all the eligible sportsmen can apply.
He said that to encourage sports and sports persons the Poto Ho Khel Yojana has been started as part of which grounds are being prepared at the village level. He said that the government wanted to make a network from panchayat level to state level where different sports programmes can be held and players can give their best.
The Chief Minister said that despite the pandemic a T-20 cricket tournament was organised in which players from all the districts participated. Moreover the tournament also concluded safely and lakhs of people watched the matches online.
The Chief Minister said that girls who were supposed to represent the country in Fifa under 17 World Cup were training in Goa for which 12 girls have been selected from Jharkhand and atleast 6 girls from Jharkhand would represent the nation therefore the state government has sent an invitation to all the players who were supposed to train in the camp to come and do their training in Jharkhand with the girls.
He said that for the first time after the formation of the state sports officials have been appointed. He said that for a state which has huge sports potential not having a proper system was a matter of great concern. Hemant Soren said that after coming to power due focus has been accorded to the sports sector and therefore now for all the 24 districts there would be full time officials who would be working with honesty and dedication to take the sports sector further higher and the mineral-rich state of Jharkhand will also make a name for itself in the sports field.
Before the Chief Minister the newly appointed district sports officers were posted in the districts through a lottery system. In the notification related to their posting in the different districts the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary signed on the spot.
Chief Secretary Sukhdeo Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajeev Arun Ekka, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Pooja Singhal were also present on the occasion.