Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Sep 26: Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dr Mohesh Chai said that recruitment of coaches for various sports disciplines will be held soon.
The state cabinet has approved the proposal for appointment of coaches for 16 sports disciplines and recruitment to the posts will be conducted very soon, Dr Chai said during the Annual State Sports Award ceremony cum consultative meeting at Chimpu on Wednesday.
Admitting that infrastructure and coaches are basic needs for development of any sports, he said: “We should adopt realistic step considering our limited resources.”
“We should not always blame the lack of infrastructure for not being able to produce sportsperson of international repute,” Dr Chai said. He cited the example of Asian Games gold medalist Hima Das of Assam.
The Sports Minister said a lot of infrastructure under central government’s ‘Khelo India’ programme will come in the next one and half years, while many are on verge of completion.
“We have failed to nurture many talented sportspersons. We do not know about their whereabouts now and what are they doing after passing the class 10,” lamented Dr Chai.
He said there is need to relook into the sports policy.
The minister advocated that those sportspersons appointed under sports quota, who are currently serving in various departments, should be allowed to continue their sports.
Expressing his strong resentment over 18 sports association failing to turn up for the meeting, out of the total 39, Dr Chai said, “Associations should not be formed for the sake of forming it.”
He said time and again that funding to all defunct sports associations should be discontinued with immediate effect.
He urged the sports bodies to have their own event calendars and conduct activities setting an achievable target.
Arunachal Olympic Association secretary general Abraham K Techi appealed to the central as well as the state governments to review the sanctioning of various schemes for development of sports infrastructure in remote and far-flung areas.
Abraham said these infrastructures should have been developed in and around the capital complex. He was of the view that infrastructures, which are not accessible to the players, are of no use.
At the same time, he said: “There is a hockey turf at SLSA complex. Sadly, there is no player. There also is a swimming pool. But, who swims there? You will find only some frogs swimming in it.”
Earlier, Director of Sports Tadar Apa urged the sports minister to take up the issue of recruitment and appointment of coaches with Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Director Sports DK Dinglow urged the sports minister for sanctioning the Olympic Bhawan, a long-felt demand of the sports fraternity.
Secretary Sports Dani Salu hailed the Sports Authority of Arunachal headed by Bamang Tago for all the initiatives taken for all round development of games and sports in Arunachal.
Arunachal Karate Do Association president Likha Tara, who also is the treasurer of the Arunachal Olympic Association, urged all the sports associations to work with dedication for the development of sports sector.
Speaking on the occasion, SAA Chairman Bamang Tago said the awards have been introduced to recognize and honour sports personalities and promoters.
“It will be an annual event,” he said, adding that sports promoters from different fields will also be considered for the award next year.
Tago said the main objective of the consultative meeting was to discuss various issues and problems hindering the development of the sports sector, and address them.
Earlier, the presidents and secretaries of 21 state level sports associations of different disciplines highlighted their activities, achievements and various grievances.
