Hey Pune sports enthusiasts, have you heard about the ‘Kheladu Dattak Yojana’ introduced by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) five years ago? Well, it seems like this sports adoption scheme has been pretty inactive since its inception.
Back in 2012, PMC rolled out its sports policy with plans to update it every six years. The latest update was in 2018 after consulting with athletes, coaches, and sports organizations in the city. The aim was to support budding athletes, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by providing sports kits and funding for essentials like food and energy supplements.
Despite covering ten sports disciplines like wrestling, hockey, boxing, and more, the program has failed to benefit any athletes so far. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down, and the absence of an elected body and sports committee in the past two years hasn’t helped either.
PMC Sports Officer Pradip Mahadik admitted to facing challenges in kickstarting the scheme, citing a lukewarm response from sporting organizations. However, he remains hopeful that deserving athletes will eventually benefit from the scheme.
Apart from supporting athletes, the sports policy also offers scholarships, travel allowances, sponsorships for sports kits, and free training facilities for students in municipal schools. It also includes plans for developing new sports complexes, enhancing existing grounds, and safeguarding land designated for playgrounds.
Let’s hope that PMC can overcome the hurdles and make the ‘Kheladu Dattak Yojana’ a success for Pune’s aspiring sports stars!
Thanks For Reading Report of Punepress.com