Union Ministers lay foundation stone for ₹14 crore Indoor sports complex at V.C. Farm in Mandya

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a ₹14 crore multi-purpose indoor sports complex at V.C. Farm in Mandya.

A statement issued here said the sports complex sanctioned for Mandya under Khelo India scheme of Government of India will come up in the campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences at V.C. Farm in Mandya.

The Union Sports Minister, who addressed the gathering, said the Khelo India initiative is a national programme that seeks to revive sports culture at the grassroots level and transform India into a leading sporting nation.

Claiming that the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked extensively over the past eleven years to strengthen the sports ecosystem in the country, Mr. Mandaviya said ₹4,000 crore has been allocated in the latest Union Budget to strengthen sports infrastructure, compared to ₹1,200 crore a decade ago.

Mr. Mandaviya further said that Mandya has produced several sportspersons who have brought recognition not only to the state, but also to the country at national and international levels. He said athletes such as Vikas Gowda and K.P. Shilpa had enhanced the reputation of Mandya.

He also highlighted wheelchair tennis player Shilpa, who has been bringing glory to the country both nationally and internationally. 

He hoped that many more talented sportspersons would emerge from Mandya in the coming years.

Mr. Kumaraswamy also joined Mr. Mandaviya in calling upon the youth of Mandya district to strengthen the sports culture in the district in line with the slogan ‘Khelo India! Vibrant Mandya!’ and to produce more champions from the region, the statement said.

Distribution of electric vehicles

During a stage programme organised on the occasion, electric vehicles were distributed to 388 persons with disabilities. 

The vehicles were provided under the CSR initiatives of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), said the statement issued by Mr. Kumaraswamy’s office.

“Additionally, 500 desktops and 100 laptops donated by Infosys were handed over to government schools. A state-of-the-art ambulance donated under the CSR initiative of the Hinduja Group was also presented to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS),” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mandaviya appreciated Mr. Kumaraswamy’s compassion and commitment toward persons with disabilities, and said he had personally seen the JD(S) leader’s concern for the specially-abled and described the initiative of distributing electric vehicles as highly commendable.

He noted that such efforts not only help persons with disabilities in their daily lives, but also contribute positively to environmental protection.

Jaggery garland

After the foundation stone laying ceremony for the indoor stadium, the two Union Ministers were taken to the stage programme in an open-vehicle procession.

“At the V.C. Farm gate, supporters welcomed them with a massive garland made of jaggery, a specialty of Mandya. Mr. Mandaviya was visibly surprised by this unique welcome,” the press statement said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy explained him the significance and reputation of Mandya’s jaggery, which is widely known for its quality, the statement added.