VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asked officials not to view sports only from the angle of those taking part in competitions, but ensure that all sections of people benefit from them.
Reviewing activities of the sports and youth services department on Thursday at the state secretariat, Chandrababu Naidu recalled that earlier people used to play kabaddi and volleyball in almost all villages. But these activities have disappeared with the advent of television.
"If playgrounds are set up in villages, all people will turn to sports again and lead a healthier life,” the Chief Minister remarked.
He said if non-resident Indians (NRIs) and industrialists come forward to fund playgrounds in villages, they can be named after them.
Naidu told officials to create sports infrastructure in such a way that the 2027 National Games are held in Andhra Pradesh. He pointed out that though the sports policy his government had formulated in 2017 ended in 2022, the then YSRCP government did not take any initiative to formulate a new policy.
The Chief Minister stressed on formulation of a new sports policy, so that Andhra Pradesh does not lag behind in winning medals. In this context, he wanted officials to transform Tirupati, Amaravati and Visakhapatnam into sports hubs by providing all the necessary infrastructure.
Naidu maintained that the previous Telugu Desam regime had encouraged sports. It had started construction of stadia and playgrounds. But the subsequent YSR Congress government brought all these works to a halt.
The Chief Minister directed officials to complete the construction of all such playgrounds, stadia and sports centres. He declared that ₹23 crore are being sanctioned for the purpose.
Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy was present at the review meeting along with officials.
