Sportstar Focus Bihar Conclave | We want to develop sports goods manufacturing in India: Khadse

Raksha Khadse, Minister of State — Sports, Government of India, on Sunday, said the Sports Ministry wants to prioritise the development of sports goods manufacturing in India.

Delivering the Keynote Address at the Sportstar Focus Bihar Conclave in Patna, Khadse said: “We want to develop sports goods manufacturing in India. We have to rely on getting it from other countries. But if we can do this in our states, then we can take sports to every household.

“We see so much workforce from Bihar, we can take that into sports as well, which can then contribute to the state’s growth.”

Appreciating Bihar for its efforts to reach the grassroot level with sporting infrastructure, she said: “I do not agree that Bihar is a backward State. Bihar will be a booming sports hub.

“We have to develop the system and take it forward, and we have been able to start that with the international events that you hosted.

“I have to appreciate the state for using the MNREGA to develop sports infrastructure in smaller districts.

“The idea was put up by Mr. Raveendran Sankaran IPS (DG and CEO, Bihar State Sports Authority) at the Chintan Shivir (thought conclave) with the honourable Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and we have put that in the sports budget as well.

“This will be used at a Central Government level now to uplift the rural areas across the country in sports”.