GUWAHATI: Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju seek restoration of fare concession for athletes to ensure they can reach their place of training and competition conveniently.
In a letter to the Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal, it stated, "I shall be grateful if you could kindly get the concession restored for sportspersons in passenger fares in the best interest of sports and Indian sportspersons."
Rijiju mentioned in the letter that since the training and sports competitions have started, the sportspersons are facing difficulties due to the withdrawal of concession.
"Since the training and sports competitions have started, the sportspersons are facing difficulties due to withdrawal of the concession in passenger fares while travelling to participate in all India, State and National level tournaments," he said, adding that the Indian Olympic Association has also submitted a representation in this regard.
"In view of the above, I shall be grateful if you could kindly get the concession restored for sportspersons in passenger fares in the best interest of sports and Indian sportspersons," the Sports Minister added.
The SOPs also stated that prior to the resumption of sports activities, all workout areas, the field of play, medical centre, physiotherapy centres, gymnasium, showers, washrooms, other common areas, etc shall be sanitised.
Earlier this month Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Kiren Rijiju inaugurated two sports facilities in Shillong which also happens to be the first in the North Eastern States.
Notably, the Assam Rifles Public School (ARPS) at Laitkor in Meghalaya would be converted into a sports school — one of the few such schools around the country.
Going forward the 'Sports School', will be known as ARPS (Sports), Laitkor having 50 boys and 50 girl students selected by Sports Authority of India (SAI) who will be coached and trained by the personnel of SAI.
Apart from this, the Union Minister will also inaugurate the Synthetic Football Turf and Girls Hostel in SAI training centre, Shillong.
All expenditure on academics and training of the students will be sponsored by SAI under the `Khelo India' scheme of the Government of India.
"Creating sporting infrastructure at the grass-root level is a step towards developing a robust sports ecosystem in the country and working towards achieving sporting excellence in the long run," tweets Rijiju.