Sports are excellent tools that can be used to transform youth into an organised and competent workforce to realise the overarching goal of socio-economic development.
Sports are very essential for every human life which keeps them fit and fine and physical strength. It has great importance in each stage of life. It also improves the personality of people. Sports keep our all organs alert and our hearts become stronger by regularly playing some kind of sports. sports has always given priority from old ages and nowadays it has become more fascinating. Due to the physical activity blood pressure also remains healthy, and blood vessels remain clean. Sugar level also reduces and cholesterol comes down by daily activity. Different people have different interests in sports but the action is the same in all sports. Sports are becoming big channels to make more capital/money day by day and the number of people is also increasing. By playing sports even at a young age you can also be better and free from some diseases. By playing sports lung function also improves and becomes healthy because more oxygen is supplied. Sports also improves bone strength even in old age.
The energy and potential of youth could be channelised for productive and meaningful purposes through games and sports. Jammu and Kashmir has prioritised the promotion of games and sports among the youth. The aim is to use sports to transform the youth into a self-confident, organised, and competent workforce, which could bring social changes and economic development to the region.
Talent is available far and wide, but what is required is identifying such talent at the right time and providing the necessary support system to hone their capabilities. To energise and channelise the energy of youth, the government of J&K took out a new sports policy in two years back . Through this policy, the government envisioned creating a desired eco-system enabling youth to scale new heights. Since the onset of cross-border in late 1988, the youth and sports of J&K have been affected very badly.
Youth can make a significant and positive contribution toward the efforts of maintaining and promoting peace and security. The youth could play a crucial role in preventing and resolving the problem of terrorism and act as a vital aspect of sustainability and inclusiveness. This could lead to successful peacekeeping efforts and peace-building measures in the region. It is also the sole duty of governments and administrative authorities to identify, drive and direct priorities, strategies and activities for restoring peace and security by ensuring youth’s inclusiveness without discrimination.
It is imperative to understand youth’s challenges, especially the inequalities or gender discrimination that put young women at high risk. Therefore the government should try to enhance women’s empowerment and gender equality. There has been a growing contribution of sports and youth in realising peace and development, promoting tolerance and respect, and empowering youth and women, individuals and communities through sports, health, education, and social and cultural initiatives.
The government of India is trying to make J&K a sports destination by creating world-class infrastructure and introducing a new sports policy for the Union Territory. As per Jammu and Kashmir sports council, around 500 athletes have won medals in numerous games at the national level. There has been a colossal revolution in sports infrastructure all over Jammu and Kashmir. Various new stadiums of the international standard have been created, while many others are being built up in various districts of the Union Territory. The Sports Council of Jammu and Kashmir has motivated young people to take sports as a career.
The youth of J&K are delighted about the changes in the sports sector. Encouragingly, girls in huge numbers are participating in the sports and representing India at national and international events. The government has also encouraged sports to protect youth from drugs and other illegal activities. The youngsters who pick up sports make a name for themselves and earn from it. These sportspeople are inspiring other young minds also.
Jammu and Kashmir has enough talent and needs proper direction and a platform to advance in life’s journey. Today sports in J&K are taking a new stride and making a new curve on the peace, security and development graph. The youth and children choose sports as a tool to rise in life and achieve great success. Participating in sports and games could help reduce stress levels and increase feelings of physical and mental well-being. Sports provide physical and mental stress relief, which can help certain mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Psychotherapist Ashley Miller states that anxiety and depression are often triggered or exacerbated by excessive stress levels.
sports icons are the true inspiration for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and added the government’s efforts to take sports to villages have bridged the decades-old gap between talents and opportunities.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, modern sports infrastructure have been built, providing world-class training and mentoring to the athletes and all other supports to ensure J&K’s sports persons are able to achieve excellence in national and international sporting events.Adequate sports infrastructure, new sports policy, upgradation in the quality of coaches, youth engagement drives at the panchayat level, LG rolling trophy and various other initiatives have created a robust sports culture involving all sections and secure attractive career track for the athletes.A total of 702 sports projects have been completed in the last few years. Two athletic tracks, one each at Jammu University and Kashmir University, five synthetic hockey fields and two synthetic football fields have been constructed at Pulwama, Srinagar, Jammu, Poonch, Nagrota. J&K has produced sports icons ,the true inspiration for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and added the government’s efforts to take sports to villages have bridged the decades-old gap between talents and opportunities.
