DHENKANAL: The district has not received funds for promotion of sports and related infrastructure at gram panchayat and block levels since the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan was launched in 2012.
According to official sources, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs used to release about `30 lakh since 2007-08 for development of sports infrastructure including playground, organising sports competitions and purchase of sports equipment besides motivating sportspersons.
Several school playgrounds were developed and the participation of students and youths in sports got a boost over the years.
The district used to receive funds under Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), a Central Government sponsored scheme since 2009. The fund was shared by the Centre and the State in a proportion of 75:25.
But after PYKKA scheme was revised and renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan in 2012, Dhenkanal has been deprived of funds affecting the sports sector, District Sports Officer PK Mohanty said.
“Though we have written to the higher authorities in this regard several times, no funds were released except for organising certain sports competitions among school students,” he said.