Bright future awaits for J&K youth in sports activities after abrogation of Article 370

Shrinagar : The decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led regime to abrogate J&K's special status and turn it into a Union Territory has proven to be a game changer as the government during the past five years has ensured that J&K youth can excel in every sphere of life, including sports. The government's new initiatives and policies in the field of sports have helped sportspersons from Jammu and Kashmir to give their best performances and emerge as champions in national and international competitions. Till 2019, merely two to three lakh youth used to get opportunities for participation in sports events every year. However, during the past three years, the government has set a record, with more than 30 lakh youth getting a chance to participate in sporting activities.

          In a major departure from the past, J&K administration is focusing on quality sports facilities and training not only in Srinagar and Jammu cities but across all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Every district is equipped with top-level indoor and outdoor stadiums. The administration is also working to prepare the youth of J&K for big events like the Asian Games and Olympics. Earlier J&K had no requisite infrastructure, training, and coaches for bigger international events. During the past four years, coaches have been hired to train the players so that they can develop the skills to compete at national and international levels. 

New Sports Policy

   In February this 2022, the Administrative Council (AC), headed by J&K Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, approved the rollout of the J&K Sports Policy 2022.

 The New Sports Policy strives to achieve excellence by involving all the stakeholders and establishing inter-departmental synergies for composite development of sports. The basic canons of the Sports Policy are to 'Scout' - identify talent and catch them young; 'Engage' - ensure grassroots inclusive engagement in sports & games. The policy incorporates various annual awards like Award for Excellence in Sports for 10 sportspersons, J&K Khel Protsahana Award for Sports Association, and two veterans/ experienced sportspersons/ organisers or referees, Parshuram Award for 5 best Coaches in different disciplines.

      To further inspire the sporting talent in the Union Territory (UT), special cash awards will be presented to winners in a range of prestigious competitions, including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, World Cups, Youth Olympic Games, South Asian Games, and World University Games/Championships. This initiative aligns with the mission of "Sports for All & Fitness for All," which aims to establish a results-driven mechanism that not only promises but also delivers physical, social, and economic development opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The mission also emphasizes the identification and nurturing of talent at the grassroots level while providing them with world-class sports infrastructure to achieve excellence in their respective sports. Additionally, the mission seeks to create a sports-centric ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders by enhancing job opportunities and generating revenue through the promotion of Jammu and Kashmir as a sports tourism destination.

      The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Policy for 2022 encompasses several salient features aimed at revitalizing the sports landscape in the region. First and foremost, the policy emphasizes scouting to identify latent talent from a young age, recognizing the importance of nurturing potential athletes early in their development. Furthermore, the policy is designed to foster engagement by extending opportunities to all individuals across the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of age, socio-economic background, or gender. This inclusivity means that people of all walks of life can partake in sports and games of their choice.

      Notably, the sports policy is moving beyond the traditional focus on activities like cricket and football. It is now actively prioritizing and promoting other popular sports such as volleyball, Kho-Kho, kabaddi, water sports, and winter sports, which may have been overlooked in the past. To realize this vision, various sports festivals and events are being organized in nearly every district within the Union Territory. These initiatives aim to unearth talent in these diverse sporting disciplines and provide them with the training and resources necessary to become accomplished and professional athletes. This approach ensures a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to sports development in Jammu & Kashmir.

      After the scrapping of Article 370, the administration can proudly claim that it has revamped the sports infrastructure and has brought ground-breaking change to the sports arena of the Himalayan region. A talented Kashmiri skier, Arif Khan, carried India's National Flag at the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics in Beijing in February this year. The 31-year-old Arif was the lone Indian competitor at the games, having qualified in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. He was the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the games. 

       A 22-year-old boy from Jammu and Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Umran Malik, who made a name for himself with his fast pace that often crossed the 150kmph mark, was included in the Indian team and he made his international debut against Ireland earlier this year. 

     Encouragingly, girls in huge numbers are participating in the sports and representing India at national and international events, Sadia Tariq won India a gold medal at the Moscow Wushu Championship. Bilquis Mir, Director of water sports, also became the first Kashmiri woman to be a judge at the Olympics. And in the IPL, Umran Malik has also made his name by being the fastest bowler in India.

Union Sports Ministry provides liberal funding

    The Union Sports Ministry during the past three years has invested Rs 506.13 crore in 77 infrastructure projects under the Khelo India Scheme in the Himalayan region. Twenty-four sports academies were accredited and 199 'Khelo India' Centres (district level) and 11 KheloIndia State Centres of Excellence were approved under the Khelo India Scheme in J&K and Ladakh. In addition, under the 'Enhancement of Sports Facilities at J&K' (PMDP) programme of the government, 30 sports infrastructure projects, as well as sports equipment, were sanctioned in the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh amounting to Rs 273.85 crore.  

   In a major departure from the past, J&K administration is focusing on quality sports facilities and training not only in Srinagar and Jammu cities but across all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Every district is equipped with top-level indoor and outdoor stadiums. The administration is also working to prepare the youth of J&K for big events like the Asian Games and Olympics. 

            Jammu and Kashmir has enough talent and needs proper direction and a platform to advance in life’s journey. The youth and children choose sports as a tool to rise in life and achieve great success. Participating in sports and games could help reduce stress levels and increase feelings of physical and mental well-being. Prevention of radicalisation and terrorism requires increasing inclusion and social cohesion. Sports can play a vital role by helping to mobilise communities and promoting social inclusion and solidarity. Sports can act as a tool for countering Pak-sponsored terrorism, religious radicalisation and social issues and promote peace, tolerance and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries irrespective of colour, creed sex and religion.

Guest Author - Sheeraz Zaman is a expert of current affaiers