Himachal Pradesh is excelling in sports sector and the youth of the State by participating in various sports activities at National and International level and winning medals in various events are making the state proud. The State government has launched various schemes to boost up the sports activities and encourage the youth in a big way.
The state government has increased the cash prize amount four times for securing position at National level. In solo competitions, the cash prize for the first position has been enhanced from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 80,000 and for second position, it has been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 40,000 and for third position, the cash prize has been increased from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 24,000.
Similarly, in team competitions, the cash prize for first position has been increased from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 16,000 and for second position, from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 8,000 and for third position; it has been increased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,000. The cash prize for national youth awardees has been increased from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 40,000.
Under Nodal Youth Club scheme honorarium to youth volunteer at district headquarters has been increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,500 per month. Under this scheme, funds for the purchase of cultural and sports equipment has been enhanced from Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 20,000 per block.
During the last two and half years, 225 National Award winners, 7 Mountaineers and 13 Special Children were honoured with cash award of worth Rs. 1,08,35,186 on 15th August, 2013, 2014 and 25th and 26th January, 2015 respectively.
Multi-purpose Indoor Sports Complex are being developed in district headquarters, where this facility does not exist besides, developing sports fields/facilities and open sports hostels at some places with a budget provision of Rs. 35 Crore, for the current financial year. A football academy is being set up at Dharamshala.
Youth constitute 40 per cent of the total population of the State. The youth of the state need ample opportunities for the self-expression and self-development. To empower youth activities in the State, the annual grant of youth clubs had been enhanced from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 18,000 in 2013-14 and further to Rs. 20,000 in 2015-16.
The state government is committed to provide better facilities and infrastructure for sports and other activities. A sum of Rs. 1386.08 lacs has been spent on repairs/maintenance and construction of sports infrastructure in the State. A sum of Rs. 1.00 Crore has been spent for the construction of small playfields in rural areas in Himachal Pradesh.
Himachal has achieved many mile stones in different fields of sports at National level during the last two and half years. In 7th National Rural Sports Competition (2014-15) 134 players participated in various disciplines and won one Gold, 2 Bronze and one Silver medal in Boxing, 4 Bronze, one silver medal in Judo and one bronze medal in badminton. In 6th National Rural Sports competition (2013-14) 130 players participated from Himachal Pradesh in various disciplinesand and won two silver medals in boxing, badminton, two bronze medals in Teakwando and one bronze medal in Athletics (3000 meters) respectively.
72 youths from the State has participated in national youth festival organized in the State of Assam in the month of January this year in different events. The State has won 1st position in Kathak and 3rd position in the event of Sitar recitation. Similarly, in National Women Sports competition, Himachal Pradesh team secured 1st place in the event of Volleyball and 3rd place in the Kabaddi event.
The State government is providing equal opportunities to the rural youths in sports and other activities. During last two and half years various sports competitions had been organized in Sirmour, Mandi, Una and Bilaspur districts under Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) in which more than 80 thousand youth were participated. A State level functions was also organized at Kullu for especially abled participants, in which 2,000 disabled sports persons participated.