Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today welcomed and congratulated all the sportspersons, sports lovers and the three big clubs of Kolkata Maidan on Khela Hobe Divas today.
In a message posted on her X-handle, Miss Banerjee said that a big development has been achieved in the field of sports in the state since it came to power in 2011. As a result of which at all levels of sports, be it gymnastics, yoga, archery, table tennis, the state has registered ascendancy.
The budget allocation of the state sports and youth affairs department in our time has witnessed a 6.6-times increase since 2011, when the budget used to be a mere Rs 126 cr and now it has been raised to Rs 840 cr.
Miss Banerjee further said that during our regime, sports has registered a maximum growth as we have built 58 stadiums, 42 youth hostels, five Indoor stadiums, 795 mini-indoor stadiums, over 4,000 multi-gym facilities, 6 swimming pools and reformed 423 spots grounds.
Going further, she said that eight new sports academies have been started. Of which, soccer, women football, archery, tennis, table tennis, swimming, rifle shooting and badminton held the key.
The three giants of Kolkata Maidan, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting have been conferred the state’s highest award, Bangabhibhushan as a mark of their recognition in national arena. The three clubs had also been provided with over Rs 27 crore as grant for the upgradation and overhaul of infrastructure.
Moreover, over 34,000 clubs had been given Rs 5 lakh each to raise the quality of sports under the state’s flagship scheme of Khelasree.
For the development of sports in the state, financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each had been given to over 1,352 coaching camps and 34 sports companies had been given an yearly Rs 5 lakh grant.
Furthermore, we have given 21 players of the victorious Santosh Trophy team jobs in our police force.