By Our Editor:
After spending many hours indoors to engage in studies or to perform daily chores, the body becomes stiff, and the mind feels tired. To escape boredom, people resort to the movement of the body and of joints and muscles for a few minutes. When they feel fresh and energised, then they can restart their work again with vigour. Exercises help in recharging tired minds and bodies. For those who are young and energetic, sports and games are very good to keep themselves healthy and strong. Children possess a natural instinct to play some sorts of games and do not have any reservation in imitating adults. Thus, games are seldom invented but grow naturally. The word “game” is derived from an old Anglo-Saxon word “gamen” which means “play” or “sport”. Young children are encouraged to take part in sports and games which are recreational and sharpen their minds. The well-known saying, ”All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, is indeed very appropriate. Sports and games are part of school and college activities throughout the world. Competition in sports and games is becoming a regular feature and for those who are gifted and talented, it has become a well-paid profession.
In the old days before creation of Meghalaya, the composite state of Assam reserved a certain percentage of job opportunities for entrants who were good in sports and games. Central establishments like the Accountant General (AG) office, Central Customs and post offices also competed for qualified youths who excelled in sports and games. Those were the days in which inter-office tournaments like football, hockey, etc. were held annually at different locations in Assam and outside. The Directorate of Sports and Youths Affairs was created to cater to the budding and young talents. Infrastructures and facilities necessary for growth and improvement are being provided at different levels, right from the state to the villages so that deserving and aspiring youths can avail of such opportunities. For the year 2022-23, the Department of Sports and Games has been granted Rs 208 crore, Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Stadium, Polo Shillong which requires upgradation has been earmarked Rs 40 crore. There will be 12 badminton courts, an indoor shooting range, a running track and an amphitheatre inside the complex. The new PA (Purno Agitok) Sangma Integrated Sports Complex in Tura will be starting in December. During the last two years, that is, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, Rs 45 crore had been spent for development of 150 grassroots sporting infrastructure projects. In order to complete these projects, an additional Rs 40 crore has been allocated. Football is the favourite game of locals and accordingly ‘Mission Football’ will be continued after cessation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Local talents will be identified at the grass-root level in partnership with the Meghalaya State Olympic Association. Meghalaya Games will be held in May this year, which will subsequently be a bi-annual affair. As part of the state’s golden jubilee celebrations, the second edition of the North East Olympics will be hosted by Meghalaya.
Considering all these inter-related Sports & Games activities, it is high time to start relevant state academies so that youths no longer need to go outside. Stipends and scholarships are also necessary, especially for the poor and the needy.