Adequate Progress
By Rashmi Singh
In its manifesto AAP stated – “We will create new sports facilities, improve the existing infrastructure and provide coaching assistance to sportspersons. We will open for the youth Delhi’s sports stadiums and complexes that at present are lying underutilized. More than 3000 government school playgrounds will also be made available to the local community after school hours.”
In one of its biggest announcements related to sports the Delhi government gave a green light to establish India’s first sports school and university in October of 2019. The university will offer full time undergraduate, post graduate and doctorate courses in cricket, hockey and others. On the same line a CBSE affiliated sports school will also be created. It is hoped that this initiative will ensure a more secure and successful job opportunities for athletes. The Delhi Sports University Bill was passed by the assembly in December 2019.
The Delhi government has taken many initiatives to create new and improve existing sports facilities across different parts of the state including villages. Construction of Rs 140 crores state-of-the-art sports complex in the rural region of Kair, Najafgarh, renovation of sports complex in Pooth Kalan at a cost of Rs. 5.1 crore being some of the initiatives.
To provide access to professional sports coaching to the students in government schools the government launched a scheme under which interested private academies, clubs and individuals can impart training to the students in the school playground which will be provided free of cost. In the first phase 99 applicants have been allotted 85 school playgrounds for a period of two years.
In line with their promise of opening up the Delhi sports stadiums and complexes to the public the Delhi government launched the ‘pay and play’ scheme to promote sports among all ages. Under the scheme, anyone can visit a stadium or a sports complex and indulge in their preferred activity or sport by paying a fee, between 6 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. Fees have been kept nominal ranging from Rs. 45 to Rs. 100.
Against its promise of making 3000 government playgrounds available to the local community the Delhi government issued a circular in May 2016. The circular listed 77 Delhi government school playgrounds that were to be made available to the local community for use before and after school hours and holidays.
Therefore, the promise has been marked as ‘adequate progress’