CM Bhagwant Mann inaugurates 1,000 new rural sports grounds across Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today dedicated 1,000 more rural sports grounds to the people across the state. The main objective of this initiative is to keep youth away from the influence of drugs and inspire them towards sports.

Under this campaign, the main event was held in Shahpur village under Amloh constituency in Fatehgarh Sahib district, where the Chief Minister personally participated and inaugurated it. This third phase includes 93 grounds in Fatehgarh Sahib district alone.

The Chief Minister informed that a target has been set to prepare a total of 3,100 rural sports grounds in the state. Earlier, 255 grounds were opened in the first phase on May 4 and 509 grounds in the second phase on August 24. After today's inauguration, 1,764 grounds have been handed over to villages so far.

For the convenience of players, these grounds are equipped with six-feet high mesh boundary walls, six-feet wide illuminated walking tracks, toilets, store rooms, and submersible pumps for water. Six-lane 400-meter running tracks have also been constructed in several selected grounds.

The government is providing free equipment for football, hockey, volleyball, and cricket in these grounds. In addition, volleyball and football coaches will be deployed in every ground to provide proper guidance to the youth.

According to the Chief Minister, the maintenance of these sports grounds will be managed by committees formed under the Gram Panchayat. These committees will include the village sarpanch, youth club president, junior engineer, panchayat secretary, and a female or player member.

Key developments

• 1,000 new rural sports grounds inaugurated across the state.
• Out of the target of 3,100, a total of 1,764 sports grounds have been completed so far.
• 255 grounds were opened in the first phase and 509 in the second phase.
• Village-level committees were assigned the responsibility for maintaining the sports grounds.