Digvijaya Singh Panel Reviews Arunachal Pradesh Sports Infrastructure

Amidst the sports boom going on in northeastern India, Arunachal Pradesh is gearing up to emerge as a major sports hub in the neighboring areas. With Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Assam getting major sports infrastructural boosts, Arunachal Pradesh needs to fast-track its growth curve in order to achieve its aforesaid ambition.

The Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports (EWCY&S), chaired by Digvijaya Singh, began its visit at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence located at Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy in Chimpu, near Itanagar.

Later the committee held a meeting at Donyi Polo International Hotel with the officials from the Education and Women and Youth Affairs departments.

Representatives from several public sector undertakings, including NHPC, Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO), and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN); officials from the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, Rajiv Gandhi University, the Directorate of Research, and the Directorate of Cultural Affairs were part of the deliberations.

The meet ended with a final visit to the scenic Ziro Valley, which harbors rich heritage and culture. The delegation described the valley as the jewelry of the Northeast and highlighted its unrealized potential in the development of youth development and tourism.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had recently launched ₹196.44 crore in the Siang district in order to uplift the grassroots-level infrastructural penetration of quality sports institutions. Earlier in the month, the CM also proclaimed a sweeping ₹400 crore allocation for the development of the football ecosystem of the state. Areas of Itanagar, Dirang, and Miao Sports Academy shall receive sports complexes under this sanction. The 25000 seater football stadium under PM DevINE scheme gave a good kickstart to the state's sports vision.