Sports policy draft favours maximum participation of women in games

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 3

In a new ray of hope for the sportswomen of J&K, the proposed sports policy draft has suggested various measures not only to ensure maximum participation of women, but also to provide them adequate opportunities at various levels to exhibit their potential.

Sources said in order to strengthen women participation at the grass-roots level, the sports policy draft has put the women sports under the Special Sector Games, wherein the competitions will be held at block, district and state levels.

It also recommended that women teams would participate in various games in the national-level women sports competitions to be held under the Centrally sponsored scheme Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), now Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RJKA).

“Yes, the recommendation given in the draft if implemented properly would do wonders to improve the performance of women in sports. There are some disciplines wherein our women players have brought laurels to the state, but we want them to excel in every discipline they participate in at the national level,” said a Sports Department official.

“If we look at other neighbouring states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, etc, they are way ahead of us as far as women participation in competitions is concerned. No doubt, the J&K State Sports Council is already on job to ensure better statistics in terms of women participation,” he added.

Pertinently, the main focus of the authorities concerned is on the strengthening of infrastructure in rural areas where young girls are deprived of competing in competitions even at the zonal and district levels. The authorities are planning to conduct competitions in sub-junior, junior and senior categories in specific disciplines for women and after that the talent would be scouted and nurtured in the coaching camps.

The draft also proposed to provide financial assistance to those outstanding women players who achieved excellence in their respective disciplines. Further, due care will be taken to ensure that there are sufficient infrastructure, training facilities and competitive events to enable women players to participate fully in sports.