more-in Minister for Youth Services and Sports Kollu Ravindra on Thursday said that 3, 000 playgrounds would be developed in one year in rural high schools with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) funds. Speaking to mediapersons after inspecting the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium along with SAAP Vice-Chairman and Managing Director N. Bangara Raju, Mr. Ravindra said the State government had sanctioned 57 new Kreeda Vikasa Kendralu (KVK). “Of 50 KVKs which were sanctioned last year, about 39 have been completed,” he added. He visited the tennis complex, the volleyball court, the sports medicine centre and the boxing association hall and tested the equipments at gymnasium and expressed his satisfaction. Later, Mr. Bangara Raju submitted a brief report to the Minister about the sports facilities in the State. Monitoring officials He said about 200 playgrounds were identified for sports development and added each gram panchyat would have sports facilities with a minimum grant of ?5 lakh. “Sports monitoring officers would be appointed soon, from the village to State level,” he added. The Minister said that sports amenities would be created in all the 175 Assembly constituencies and they would be developed with ?2 crore. Summer coaching camps “This year, the SAAP will organise 50 summer coaching camps in each district and 30 camps would be conducted in rural areas. For that ?1.57 crore willbe released,” the Minister said In addition to summer camps, 10 residential camps would be conducted for 20 sports and games disciplines and SAAP would make the necessary arrangements. “Special coaching would be given to School Games Federation of India (SGFI), Khelo India, federation and international medallists,” he said. Mr. Ravindra said that water sports would be developed in Nagayalanka and Vijayawada. Sports kits and coaches facilities would be provided for identified government and private schools. Sports leagues would be organised in all the districts for development and promotion sports, he added. Krishna District Sports Development Officer (DSDO) Md. Sirajuddhin was among those present.

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