Mangaluru: The Central government has allocated only Rs 900 crore in its annual sports budget, which is meagre compared to the annual sports budget of England, which is to the tune of Rs 2,200 crore,” said Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fisheries Minister Pramod Madhwaraj.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the state-of-the-art International Shuttle Badminton and Kabaddi Indoor Stadium at Boloor, Urwa, here on Thursday.

“The total population of England is less than that of Karnataka state. Despite being a small country compared to India, the United Kingdom has reserved a significant amount towards sports as a supportive gesture for sportspersons,” he elaborated and urged the the Central Government to lay more emphasis on sports.

Stating that the state government, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has hiked the annual sports budgetary allocations from Rs 145 crore to Rs 285 crore, Madhwaraj said that funds to the tune of Rs 30 crore was sanctioned for Dakshina Kannada district after he took over as the sports minister.

A sum of Rs 8 crore has been granted towards various sports related activities in Mangaluru, including Rs 1.25 crore towards the development of football ground at Nehru Maidan, and Rs 5 crore towards international swimming pool in Emmekere, he said. He lauded the efforts by MLA J R Lobo for getting the funds sanctioned.

Madhwaraj stated that the indoor sports complex at Boloor, Urwa will come up at a cost of Rs 6.50 crore.”In order to ensure quality work, a technical advisory committee comprising five experts has been formed. On regular intervals, the committee will check the quality of the works.”

The minister said that the new state sports policy, guaranteeing various facilities to sportspersons, has been approved by the cabinet. As per the policy, the state government would provide necessary support towards training sportspersons. A sum of Rs 48 crore has been reserved towards the same. Apart from this, 2% seat reservation will be provided for sports candidates at educational institutions.

Also, the sports candidates will be awarded grace marks in examinations. If the examinations clash with sports event, the candidates will be allowed to take part in the sports event and a separate examination would be conducted for them later. The policy is the first of its kind in the state, he said.

Madhwaraj requested parents and teachers to encourage and nurture sporting talent. He also called upon elected representatives to give a boost to sports activities in their respective areas.

Various facilities by the fisheries department were distributed to the beneficiaries by the minister on the occasion. The minister also performed ground breaking ceremony for the outdoor stadium at 49th Kankanadi – B ward in Ekkur, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore and towards a Jetty for idle berthing at Bokkapatna near Sulthan Bathery to be set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

He meanwhile visited the memorial of Mogavira Kulaguru ‘Sri Madhava Mangala Poojaryaru’ at Bokkapatna.