Mysuru: Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister Pramod Madhavaraj inspected Chamundivihar Stadium, hostels and the ongoing swimming pool work on Tuesday, August 2.
During his inspection, though he was happy with the infrastructural facilities and its maintenance, he was unhappy with the toilet facilities. He took Assistant Director K Suresh to task for not maintaining the toilet rooms properly. He issued a 30-day deadline to set right the much needed basic facilities to the public and sports persons especially for women.
During the two hour inspection, he appreciated Suresh for maintaining the lawn inside the synthetic track. An annoyed Madhavaraj took Suresh to task after he inspected the toilet rooms. He later inspected the hostels and also interacted with the sports hostel’s girls and took feedback from them. After inspecting the kitchen at the hostel, he instructed the cooks to provide different items every day. To know the quality of food being supplied to hostelites, he even tasted a few food items. He appreciated the cooks for the quality of the food being prepared and called upon them to continue the same. Some of the girls requested the minister for additional food for which he provided all his assurance.
Speaking to media Pramod Madhvaraj said, “On Monday I came to Mysuru to pay last respect to Rakesh Siddaramaia. I decided to stay back today to inspect stadium and fisheries. After inspection, I feel the infrastructure is good. But there is still room for improvement. The indoor stadium is leaking due to which the imported Nepal wood floor is getting damaged. Hence, I have instructed the director of Youth Service Empowerment and Sports to make it leak proof. I also spoke to Regional Commissioner Kunjappa about the prevailing toilet condition in the stadium. The officials failed to keep toilet neat and clean and even functional. I have told the director to serve notice to Assistant Director Suresh. When Mahatma Gandhi can clean toilet if situation arises, why can’t we do the same? When I was an MLA, I used to carry broom stick and bucket in my car”. He also mentioned that the government is giving Rs 35 lakh annually to maintain stadiums.
Sports policy by end of September
When the women hockey players who have represented nationals and are a part of India camp approached the minister for jobs, he assured the girls that the government is coming out with much needed sports policy by the end of September this year which will be a great help for talented sports persons. “Once the sports policy becomes a reality, it will be a great help for sports persons. The outstanding sports persons will get grace marks which will encourage parents to send their wards to sports. Apart from this, job opportunities will also be created. The purpose of sports policy is to make sports as a career,” added Pramod.
Sport Authority of Karnataka (SAK) coaches’ issues
Though it is the coaches who play an important role in grooming and transforming athletes into outstanding sports persons, the coaches’ issues are not being taken seriously. When asked about the long pending demands of SAK coaches, the minister said that he did not know much about the issues and is yet to go through the files. Speaking on anonymity, one of the coaches said, “It’s good that the minister is very concerned about the facilities and students in the hostel. We hope, at least in the days to come, he takes up our issues. If the issues are not addressed at the earliest, these coaches are even thinking of staging protest during the forthcoming state level dasara sports meet”.
