Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurates 16 sports infrastructure projects, boosting youth development and strengthening sporting facilities across Nagaland statewide.
WOKHA — Nagaland took a major step towards strengthening its sporting ecosystem on Friday with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio virtually inaugurating 16 sports infrastructure projects across the state and urging the Centre to expedite approval for the proposed Dimapur Multi-Sport Complex.
The projects, comprising four under Khelo India scheme and 12 funded by the state government, were inaugurated during a programme at the Chief Minister's Residential Complex in Kohima in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, Advisor for Youth Resources and Sports S Keoshu Yimchunger and other legislators.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya virtually joined the event.
Addressing the gathering, Rio said that Nagaland government has adopted a long-term strategy to transform sports in Nagaland by developing infrastructure comparable to the best in the country and creating opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest level.
He added that the inauguration marks more than the opening of new buildings. ‘It creates new opportunities for our youth and represents another milestone in our journey towards making Nagaland a sporting state,’ he said.
Stating that sports have evolved beyond recreation into a major employment-generating sector, Rio said that investment in sports infrastructure, coaching and athlete development would help nurture talent while opening new avenues for livelihoods.
He thanked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for its continued support to Nagaland and appealed to the Centre for the early clearance of the memorandum of understanding for the proposed Dimapur Multi-Sport Complex, describing it as a critical project for strengthening the state's sporting infrastructure.
Union Minister Mandaviya said that Nagaland possesses immense sporting talent and that the newly inaugurated facilities would provide young athletes with better opportunities to train and excel in different disciplines.
Congratulating the state government on completing the projects, he said investments in sports infrastructure would play a key role in identifying and nurturing future champions while encouraging greater youth participation in sports.
The newly inaugurated facilities are spread across Mokokchung, Wokha, Mon, Phek, Kohima, Dimapur, Kiphire, Noklak, Chumoukedima, Niuland and Peren districts. They include multipurpose halls, indoor sports halls, futsal grounds, prefabricated sports complexes and administrative infrastructure built with investments ranging from INR 75 lakh to INR 3.5 crore.
The Khelo India projects comprise multipurpose halls at Changtongya and Mangkolemba in Mokokchung district, a multipurpose hall in Niuland district and a prefabricated indoor sports hall at Wokha.
State-funded projects include futsal facilities at Kiphire, Noklak, Wokha Town and Chozuba; prefabricated multipurpose halls at Wokha village, Aboi, Tobu, Razaphe Basa, Jakhama town, the Chief Minister's Residential Complex in Kohima and the Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex in Dimapur; besides the department of Youth Resources and Sports office and quarters at the new district headquarters in Peren.