ROING, Dec 15: The Ita Pulu Memorial Football Tournament-2017 was declared open by Art & Culture Minister, Dr Mohesh Chai, in the presence of MP Mukut Mithi and others here in Lower Dibang Valley district on Friday.
The tournament is jointly organized by the Golden Jubilee Central Reh Celebration Committee (GJCRCC) – 2018 and the district administration, with support from the Sports & Youth Affairs department.
In his address, Dr Chai urged the youths to abstain from drugs, and advised them to channelilze their energy into extracurricular activities like games and sports
He recalled the contributions of late Naba Ita Pulu for the uplift of the Mishmi society.
Stating that the North-East region is culturally associated with sports and games, LNIPE Dean from NE Regional Centre, Guwahati, Prof Biswajit Basumatary, said that sports should be treated “as a medium of education, economic growth, and creating responsible citizens.”
Highlighting the governments’ sports policy, he said that a financial grant of Rs 5 lakh will be provided to meritorious sports-persons for eight years, from the age of 16 to 23 years, “for their training and maintenance.”
GJCRCC – 2018 President, Bishen Mepo, and IPMFT-2017 Organizing Chairman, Ambra Mena, also spoke.
Among others, Deputy Commissioner, Mitali Nachoom, SP Sanjay Kr Sain, ADC Chestha Yadav, ZPC Sipi Elapara, and family members of late Ita Pulu were present on the occasion.
On the inaugural day, MLA-11 and Committee-11 played a football match at the general ground here. (DIPRO)
