Sports has received the priority attention of government: Gazanfar Ali
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Sports has received the priority attention of government: Gazanfar Ali

Post by on Tuesday, January 25, 2022

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The Directorate of Youth Services and Sports came into being in 1973 with the purpose to plays a vital role in channelizing the positive energy of students by involving them in sports, cultural, social activities so that they may in turn contribute to nation building. 

 

In conversation with Rising Kashmir’s Sports Correspondent, Yaqoob Ali, Director General Youth Services & Sports, J&K Gazanfar Ali speaks at length about the present scenario of the sports and how much department has succeeded in providing the right platform to deserving sportsmen.

Here are the excerpts of the interview.

 

What is the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports meant for?

The Directorate of Youth Services & Sports (YSS) is a UT level controlling office of the Youth Services & Sports Department mandated to formulate programmes and policies for the promotion of sports in schools up to 10+2 level falling under the age group of 19 Years across UT.The programmes are implemented through its trained staff viz Lecturer Physical Education, Physical Education Masters, Physical Education Teachers, and Rehbar-I-Khel (REK)

The Directorate formulates a calendar of activities and conducts competitions at various levels including Inter-School (Zone Level), Inter-Zone (District Level) Inter-District (Division / UT Level) and makes the selection of the best probable for participation in National School Games being organized by the SGFI across the Country. 

We prepares students for participation in different redhead days / National level programs. It is the YSS that develops a nursery of sportspersons and nurtures them through training and coaching to enable them to compete at higher levels. It imparts Physical Education at 10+2 Level and also runs BPEd and MPEd Degree courses through Government College of Physical Education. The Directorate formulates a plan for the development of sports infrastructure in the schools as per the requirement and availability of space.

 

When did it come into being? What are its achievements till date?

The Department came into being in 1973 after segregation from the Education Department. The Department organizes tournaments at different levels and plays a vital role in channelizing the positive energy of students by involving them in sports, cultural, social activities so that they may in turn contribute to Nation Building. The Department till date has produced thousands of players at National level out of which many have made it to National and International levels. 

To monitor and carry forward the sports activities in the proper direction, the Department increased its manpower manifold in the shape of Physical Education Teachers/ Physical Education Masters / Physical Education Lectures / Rehbar-I-Khel and Zonal Physical Education Officers. It established a college of Physical Education at Gadoora Ganderbal wherein hundreds of sports persons are professionally trained for carrying forward sports missions. 

Under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India the department hosts at least three school Nationals every year. 

 

What steps have been taken by the Department with regard to domestic and national level competitions?

Every aspect to involve more and more students in sports is being taken care of by the Department with the notion that the talent is caught young and shaped rightly so that they may exhibit their talent/skills at higher levels of competition. During past years, the Domestic participation level has increased manifold and during the current year till date more than 7 lac youth have been engaged in sports activities despite covid 19 restrictions and closure of schools. The National level participation has also increased and during 2019-20 more than 2800 student players participated at National level competitions organized by SGFI and bagged 186 medals.

 

What are the major achievements in Adventure Sports?

Besides other calendared sports activities, adventure sports used to be a major influence activity of the Department. This sport suffered a lot due to unfavorable conditions and turmoil in the 1990s, however, the Department revived Skiing after a gap of 15 years, procured equipment with allied gadgets of International Standard to promote this sport. It organizes 6 Snow Skiing courses of 15 days duration with an intake capacity of 100 students each course every year during winters. It introduced Skiing at Gurez and Pahalgam, revived trekking courses after 30 years during 2020-21 in which about 20,000 students (both male/female) took part. The process is on, this year too. The Department also intends to revise Rock Climbing programmes which could not be held during past years due to unfavorable circumstances.

 

What kind of personal development is being imparted to youth / children through Physical Education?

Playing sports teaches lessons of life, such as self-discipline, teamwork, accountability, self-confidence, responsibility, the value of time, unity, and togetherness. Sports in school help prepare students to face the challenges of life. Sports enhance the physical and mental abilities of students and help them achieve the goals of their lives. It is physical Education and sports that help in the overall development and growth of a student.  

 

How do departments render services during disasters or other timely eventualities?

During the time of disasters, the staff of the Department plays an important role. At the time of a major volcanic eruption in north Kashmir, the staff voluntarily donated clothing, food items, provided financial assistance to the needy and also held a counseling session for the disturbing families due to this climate. 

The Department sent its professional mountaineers for a rescue mission at Gurez, Bandipora which was hit by an Avalanche (Snow). 

During the deluge of 2014, the officials played an important role in the rescue and rehabilitation process.

In the present COVID-19 pandemics, our Staff is also working as covid warriors at each and every covid center of the UT. Besides, they also conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns, thus helping administration in implementing the programmes.

 

In how many schools and colleges, the department is imparting its education?

Physical Education is being taught as a subject in 386 Higher Secondary Schools across the UT at 10+2 level. The department has its presence in almost all the schools of UT. In Middle and High Schools, Physical Education has not been introduced as a subject yet but physical training is being imparted to all the students by involving them in Sports/Games.

 

Since 1976 only a single college in Central Kashmir’s District Ganderbal has been established, why has the department failed to come up through more academies?

The BPED and MPED courses have been undertaken through the College of Physical Education since 1976. Besides, such courses are also being provided by the Universities of Jammu and Kashmir. The establishment of one sports University and sports academies are under the active consideration of the Government.

 

What is the number of B.P.Eds and M.P.Eds you have produced?

To date Government College of Physical Education, Gadoora Ganderbal has produced 3157 B.P.Ed and 253 M.P.Ed professionals. 

 

Is there any plan of coming up with more colleges or infrastructure?

The establishment of one sports University and sports academies are under the active consideration of the Government. The Department during the past two years under Augmentation of Sports Infrastructures has taken up many projects like AstroTurf Hockey fields, synthetic Volleyball, BasketBall, Hand Ball, FootBall, and Athletic Tracks Badminton, across UT. About 97 such works have been completed so far and the work on other projects is going on. An amount of Rs 191.52 crore is being incurred under this programme.

 

Srinagar, being the face of the valley, lacks many indoor and outdoor playfields. Why is the District witnessing a major dearth?

The Srinagar city has a huge sports infrastructure in the valley in the form of stadiums, indoor halls, swimming pools, water sports center, football grounds, cricket grounds, and many more. However, the District is densely populated and is still witnessing a dearth. The major reason is the non-availability of land. The government is proposing to construct more and more playfields in different areas of the city to cater to the requirement of the local youth of the city. For this purpose, some sites have been identified and approved recently and the process is on.

 

Is the Department of Youth Services & Sports mulling over strengthening sports infrastructure in Srinagar and elsewhere?

Yes, the Development of Sports Infrastructure in District Srinagar and across UT is under priority consideration of the Government. The government has made it a resolve to have a playfield in all 4289 Panchayats of UT for the benefit of youth.

 

From the past few years, big chunks of youth have been motivated towards sports. How will they be provided good opportunities to excel in the field?

Sports has received the priority attention of the government. The facilities created have attracted more and more youth towards sports. In view of the Interest of the youth, the Department is leaving no stone unturned to provide each and every facility to them in the shape of infrastructures, trainers, counselors, and equipment of international standard. Competitions are being conducted at every level to explore the talent and guide them for participation at higher levels.

 

Any major achievement about producing National or International players from the region?

The Youth Services & Sports Department is functioning as a nursery for young talent and grooming them for participation at higher levels. The Department so far has produced hundreds of players of national and international repute.

 

What are your upcoming plans regarding boosting local talent in the field of sports?

For the first time since its inception beyond its domain, the department has organized an open tournament in 4 disciplines under the banner of YSS Cup 2021 starting from Panchayat level to UT level for engagement of a maximum number of youth and exploring their talent. The Department for the first time established 10 meters Pistol/ Rifle Shooting ranges at Doda, Jammu, and Srinagar with the equipment of International standards to boost the local talent and is proposing to establish such centers in other districts of the UT. Further, the creation of Fencing Centres / Martial Art Academies with allied facilities is also under active consideration of the Department. In Jammu, a Khel gaon is coming up at a cost of Rs. 31 crores with multiple sports facilities to boost sports.

 

For a decade hundreds of ordinary employees were appointed under Rehbar-e-Khel who are getting meager salaries? When will their monthly remuneration be enhanced and their services regularised?

The Rehbar-i-Khel scheme was introduced by the Government in 2017 with a purpose to make up for the deficiency of the staff in the schools of the State (now UT) under which 3000 REKs were created. They will be regularized after 7 years of continuous service and enhancement of honorarium is under consideration by the government.

 

Being head of the Department, what will be your word to sport-loving youth?

Play one or the other sport with honesty, passion, and hard work. Sports keep sportspersons physically and mentally fit and shall make your life disciplined and purposeful.

 

How much funds have been disbursed to the YSS department in the financial year 2021? Where was that utilized?

During the year 2021-22, the department has been allocated an amount of Rs 43.52 crore for the execution of 210 ongoing and new works across UT of J&K.  An amount of Rs 19.24 crore stands released so far. 40 works have been completed.

 

What is the Department doing to increase the number of professional coaches at the elementary level for nurturing sports enthusiasm among children?

Due to the paucity of Staff at the elementary level additional engagement of Rehbar-i-Khel was made by the Department to overcome the dearth of professional coaches at the school level to provide necessary coaching & professional assistance to students. Still, manpower shortage needs to be addressed.

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