Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the state government was taking several steps to nurture sporting talent and provide students with better opportunities and facilities to excel in sports. He also called upon students to participate actively in sports along with academics for their overall development.
The Education Minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of the four-day District-Level Under-14 Boys Sports Competition held at Government Senior Secondary School, Taklech. Himachal Pradesh State Finance Commission Chairman and local MLA Nand Lal attended the event as a special guest.
Around 692 students from 20 blocks participated in the competition, including 519 students from government schools and 173 from private schools. The participants competed in volleyball, kho-kho, kabaddi and badminton, showcasing their sporting talent and competitive spirit.
Addressing the students, Rohit Thakur said the state government was focusing on the overall development of students alongside academics. He said sports play an important role in promoting physical and mental well-being and help students develop discipline, leadership qualities, self-confidence and team spirit. He encouraged students to pursue both education and sports and continuously work towards improving their skills.
The Education Minister said the present government had provided more than 9,000 jobs in the education sector during its three-and-a-half-year tenure. He said Himachal Pradesh currently has 14,663 educational institutions, with more than 65,000 teachers serving over seven lakh students. He added that the state’s literacy rate had reached 99.30 per cent and that Himachal Pradesh ranked sixth nationally in school education and third among states.
Rohit Thakur said the government was continuously strengthening sports facilities and creating better opportunities for young athletes. He said Himachal Pradesh players had won 48 medals in the 69th National School Games, comprising eight gold, 11 silver and 29 bronze medals. During the previous academic session, 22 student athletes from the state represented India at the international level.
He said 11 sports hostels were currently functioning in the state, providing sports equipment, training and other facilities to players in the Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 age groups. The daily diet allowance for players had also been increased from Rs. 120 to Rs. 250.
The Education Minister announced Rs. 10 lakh in the first phase for repairing the playground and boundary wall of Government Senior Secondary School, Taklech, which had suffered damage during the monsoon. He also announced Rs. 50,000 for promoting cultural activities in the school.
He further announced that Government Senior Secondary School, Taklech, would be included in the state government’s plan to convert 100 government schools into CBSE schools. He said the initiative was aimed at providing students with modern educational facilities and wider opportunities for quality education.
At the conclusion of the competition, the Education Minister felicitated the winning teams and congratulated the participants for their performance. In kabaddi, Nerwa block secured first place while Rohru finished second. In volleyball, Rohru stood first and Nerwa second. In kho-kho, Rohru secured the first position and Matiana finished second, while in badminton, Nerwa emerged first and Deha secured the second position.
Rohit Thakur also congratulated the organising school, teachers and supporting staff for successfully conducting the district-level competition. During his visit, he also heard the grievances of local residents and directed the concerned departmental officials to take appropriate steps for their early resolution.
Additional Director of Education Yogesh Chauhan, Assistant Director of Elementary Education Ajay Panta, Zila Parishad members Roni Rana and Anuradha, Block Congress President Lal Chand Sharma, former Zila Parishad Chairperson Chandra Prabha, Panchayat Samiti Vice-Chairperson Rampur Sunil Kaith, Director of Tourism Yashpal Soni, HPMC Board Director Bhupesh Dhiman, Kailash Federation Board Director Trilok Bhulani, Gram Panchayat Pradhan Sunil Kaith and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
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