As uncertainty continues over the implementation of a sports policy, the recommendations regarding involvement of corporations and corporate houses for the promotion of games are gathering dust since long.
Sources said the draft sports policy had recommended that all corporations/boards and apex cooperative institutions in J&K will be brought under the overall umbrella of the J&K State Sports Council for the promotion of sports in the state by encouraging them to adopt at least one game of their choice.
They said such an initiative would have given a much-needed boost to sports promotion by opening up the required facilities for the training of players.
It was also recommended in the sports policy that the corporations/boards will support the government’s effort by contributing money and resources to augment sporting facilities in the state.
However, resentment is brewing up among the budding sportspersons of the state who are now mulling the option to migrate to other states or union territories by representing them in national and international events.
This can be gauged from the fact that in 2017-18, four fencing players from J&K had participated in the All India Inter-University Fencing Championship by representing Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
“Since 2014, we are being informed by the authorities that a sports policy will be implemented but till now, nothing has happened. Neighbouring states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana are providing better incentives to their meritorious players but in J&K, the players have to wait for long for recognition by the government,” a martial arts player said.
“In J&K, even a gold medal in Olympics or Commonwealth Games is not enough to be eligible for any such incentive. In case he gets a reward, it is much less as compared to other states,” said Kunal, a table tennis player.
“Financial and job aspects are two basic requirements of a sportsperson in any discipline but unfortunately, players in J&K are deprived of this,” he added.
