CSR funds for sports development, better infrastructure on the anvil, says Minister

The State government has put together an inter-ministerial group to work towards the development of sports infrastructure in colleges and create a support system for young athletes, Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan said on Friday.

Speaking to Physical Education Directors (PEDs) of government colleges across the State at the University of Madras (UoM), he said Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna, School Education Minister Rajmohan, and Industries Minister S. Keerthana were part of the caucus that would seek to establish a link between academia, industry, and sportspersons studying in government colleges to improve sports infrastructure and support system for athletes.

“It was the Sports Minister who suggested that we hold this meeting to evaluate the requirements,” he told the PEDs. “We have set our eyes on the 2036 Olympics and want to extend all possible help to our sportspersons,” he added.

The Minister said the inter-ministerial group would ensure that CSR funds from companies that operate in Tamil Nadu are utilised within the State. “We will ensure that our athletes can fly to destinations to compete at the national or international levels,” he assured the gathering.

He said that out of the 186 sanctioned positions for PEDs, 97 were vacant, and that the government would take steps to fill them soon.

Earlier, PED representatives put forth several suggestions to improve conditions. Among them were the provision of nutritious meals for athletes, better travel allowance and per diem for those attending competitions, multi-purpose indoor stadia at all government colleges, free education for sports quota students, and separate infrastructure for para athletes.

They also demanded hostel facilities for students admitted under sports quota, sports loan for participating in competitions, and a nutritious meal scheme for college students. on the lines of the noon meal scheme for school students to improve enrolment.

The Minister asked the PEDs to submit a possible action plan based on their suggestions, assuring them that their suggestions would be looked into.

Rita John, Registrar, UoM; S. Armstrong, Member, Vice-Chancellor Convener Committee, UoM; Cynthia Selvi, Joint Director (Planning), Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE); and R. Thangaraj, Regional Joint Director, DCE, were present.