Meghalaya’s coalition authorities, headed by the National People’s Party, is investing closely in football towards making a job-oriented sports economy, Chief Minister Conrad Ok. Sangma stated on Tuesday (March 25, 2025).
He stated Meghalaya would have 50 Astro Turf football fields by 2028, probably the most for any State in India. More than 100 football coaching grounds are additionally being developed for youngsters and youth on the grassroots degree.
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“Twenty-five of these 50 artificial turfs are under construction, while 25 others are in the proposal stage. At ₹10 crore per turf, we will be spending ₹500 crore on these football fields,” Mr. Sangma instructed journalists after inaugurating the seventh Act East Business Show within the State’s capital, Shillong.
He stated the craze for football has made the State authorities push the attractive recreation to the following degree by taking steps corresponding to establishing a 40,000-capacity football stadium that may be India’s largest. He additionally stated a centre of excellence is being established in Shillong in collaboration with the NorthEast United FC, one of many nation’s high football golf equipment.
The Chief Minister stated the federal government has focused about 25,000 youngsters by means of the grassroots football programmes and was creating funds for them.
The State authorities has additionally recognized archery, capturing, contact sports, canoeing, and kayaking for promotion after realising their potential. Another plan is to faucet the pure sprinting expertise of individuals within the State’s Ranikor and Shella areas by giving them entry to superior coaching, diet, and bodily improvement.
“We want to build sports to create jobs for the youth. We hope the investments we make in sports will allow us to create close to 15,000 direct and indirect jobs. We are trying to create an economy out of sports and music,” Mr. Sangma stated, underlining the potential of the State’s live performance economy.
He stated the investments wouldn’t yield outcomes in a single day as success comes after a course of.
“We see our investment in sports as character-building for our youth. We want to win medals, but you cannot quantify the outcome just based on medals. We are creating an ecosystem for sports and making sports a culture and part of the lives of our children from all angles,” he added.
Published – March 25, 2025 08:54 pm IST
