Surankote Stadium completed at cost of Rs 243.41 lakh: Satish Sharma

 Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, today informed the House that the Stadium at Surankote has been completed with a cost of Rs 243.41 lakh.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Choudhary Mohammad Akram in the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister informed the House that the Surankote Stadium comprises facilities like pavilion, change room, gender based toilets for boys and girls, synthetic volleyball, basketball and badminton courts, concrete practice pitch and bore well for drinking water facilities for the sports lovers.

He said that besides the Stadium the department has also constructed one playfield at Charallan Fazalabad in Suronkote Constituency with facilities including modern pavilion with inbuilt sound system worth Rs 31.22 lakh, filling of RBM/construction of gate at Rs 13.75 lakh, Chainlink fencing and leveling of playfield costing Rs 20.47 lakh.

The Minister further said that the volleyball court in Sports stadium Surankote has been completed during the current financial year 2024-25 and the coaching facility will be provided to the players by the department besides establishment of Kabaddi Centre subject to availability of resources.

The Minister informed that no project has been sanctioned under Khelo India scheme at Draba/Mastandara near BDO Office, Bufliaz. The department has no intimation from the Revenue authorities regarding acquisition of land for construction of a stadium or playfield, he added.

He said that Rehbar-e-Khel policy envisages regularization of Rehbar-e-Khel in a staggered manner on completion of seven years of satisfactory and continuous service against the available/created posts of Physical Education Teachers.

The Minister further said that 40 players are getting free training under the qualified mentor/coach, regularly, with free access to infrastructure, coaching and equipment by Khelo India centre under Khelo India Scheme at Charallan Fazlabad in the discipline of football.

He said that the facilities in the form of sports infrastructure encouraged the youth participants and participation of the students which was 2,46,890 in Poonch district during various departmental sports activities and other activities conducted in the year 2024-25, so far.

He said that the Policy for engagement of Rehbar-e-khel was adopted in the Youth Services and Sports Department and 3000 positions of Rehbar-e-Khel were created, with the primary objective to promote Sports, Games and Physical Education and at present 2417 REKs are working in the department.

The Minister added that the vacancies of Physical Education Teachers, as shall accrue to the department, shall not be filled up but kept reserved for regularization of the Rehbars. At present, 923 vacancies of Physical Education Teachers are lying vacant for regularization of Rehbar-e-Khels. The monthly honorarium for the first two years shall be Rs. 3000 which shall be enhanced to Rs. 4000 for third to seventh year.