Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal distributed annual grants-in-aid to District Sports Associations and State Sports Associations affiliated to Assam Olympic Association (AOA) through a video conference at Brahmaputra State Guest House on Thursday.
Notably, an amount of Rs 34,800 each was distributed to 25 district sports associations and Rs 72,752 each was distributed to 29 state sports associations.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal, who is also the President of AOA, said that Assam was going through a very difficult phase with COVID-19 pandemic, flood, erosion, storm, landslide, Baghjan oil well fire incident etc. He urged the sports associations to slowly revive sporting activities in the state along with keeping the sportsperson of the state motivated during these difficult times.
Along with sports activities, the Chief Minister also appealed the sports associations to volunteer in the flood relief and rehabilitation activities carried out by the state government as it is the moral responsibility of each section of the society to help in overcoming the challenges.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to restart the economic activities in parallel to fight against COVID-19, Sonowal appealed the sports associations to take up the initiatives to spot, nurture and grow sports talents at grassroots for bringing laurels to the state. He also stressed on the need to tie-up with corporate houses to sponsor sportspersons and build sports infrastructures.
It is to be mentioned that Assam Olympic Association released Rs 1.24 crore to successful players, Rs 60 lakhs to medal winners in 2016 SAFF Games and Rs 40 lakhs as sports scholarships during the lockdown period under state sports policy. 76 players who participated in Khelo India Youth Games were financially rewarded for a total expenditure of Rs 73 lakhs.
