Only a player can feel the pain of a player. Little wonder then that Union sports minister Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore who won Olympic medal for the country has been taking keen interest in development of sports facilities in Rajasthan. The sports ministry has sanctioned Rs 85.13 crore for the state in financial year 2016-17. The money would be spent on revamping several stadiums across the state.
Ace shooter and former Olympian Col. Rathore is Member of Parliament from Jaipur Rural. Considering his sports background, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him responsibility of sports ministry. Col. Rathore too didn’t let down the PM and perfectly came up to his expectations.
It was his vision and hard work that first time ‘Khelo India’ competitions were held in the country in which lakhs of sportspersons participated. Since Rathore belongs to Rajasthan, it was natural for the state’s sports fraternity to have high expectations from him. And, the young minister didn’t disappoint them.
The sports ministry has sanctioned Rs 11.60 lakh to state sports council, which would be spent on improving infrastructure at SMS stadium in Jaipur as well as other stadiums in the state.
Rajasthan government set up a squash complex without glass courts. The sports ministry has approved Rs 1.5 crore for it. Last year, Rathore had come for inspection when players and the state government requested for it and it was approved in no time.
Work on the badminton court is also underway. The court is being built under CSR but the sports ministry has sanctioned additional Rs 3.60 crore for four courts.
For improvement of sports infrastructure, the sports ministry has allocated adequate money but there is need for a high level SAI centre. It began at Vidhyadhar Nagar stadium but arrangements are not up to the mark. Rathore himself was not pleased with that. SAI centre would provide international level training to sportspersons of the state.
Colonel did wonders
Union sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore’s gifts to Rajasthan
- Rs 85.13 crore sanctioned so far
- Rs 24 crore under USIS scheme
- Rs 9.42 crore in ‘Khelo India’
- Rs. 51.71 crore sanctioned in FY 2017-18
- Rs. 3.60 crore for four championship courts in badminton arena in the SMS stadium
- Rs. 1.5 crore for all glass squash championship court in Jaipur
- Rs 1 crore for shooting range in Bhilwara
- Rs 4.5 crore for renovation of three stadiums in Jodhpur
- Rs 1 crore for indoor hall in Sriganganagar
