JAMMU, March 16: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a review meeting to assess the performance of the Youth Services & Sports Department and the J&K Sports Council, focusing on expanding youth engagement in sports and creative activities across the Union Territory.
Officials highlighted that over 35 lakh youth have already participated in various sports programmes this year, including grassroots competitions, national-level events, winter sports training in Gulmarg, Gurez, Bhaderwah, and Sonamarg, and the flagship “Leagues of Classics – Enjoy the Game 1.0”. Online platforms like MyBharat and the Youth Engagement and Empowerment Portal (YEEP) have also significantly increased youth participation.
The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of sports and creative activities in fostering discipline, teamwork, leadership, and keeping youth away from harmful influences such as drug abuse. He urged sustained investment in grassroots sports and infrastructure development.
Upcoming initiatives include Leagues of Classics 2.0, Aarohan 2026 – National Youth Festival, Mini Marathons, traditional games revival programmes, and cluster-based sports clubs in 788 school clusters. The Sports Council reported over 32.33 lakh youth engaged in 1,076 events across 50 disciplines this year, with athletes winning 28 international medals and 469 national medals so far.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed sports infrastructure projects under the SASCI scheme, with over ₹53 crore already utilised for facilities including synthetic football grounds, Olympic-standard swimming pools, indoor sports halls, and Khel Gaon developments. Plans for 2026–27 include hosting international championships and launching new leagues such as Women’s Rugby, Thang Ta, Chess, and Carrom.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing world-class sports infrastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles, and creating wider opportunities for youth participation across Jammu and Kashmir.