BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM
Samajwadi Party National President and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 27 held a detailed meeting with a large number of sportspersons and coaches from across Uttar Pradesh at the party’s state headquarters in Lucknow. Addressing a press conference after the interaction, Yadav announced that all suggestions put forward by the athletes would be incorporated into the Samajwadi Party’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections.
He assured that a Samajwadi Party government would significantly increase the budget for sports and athletes. Comprehensive infrastructural changes would be introduced from the village level to the state level to promote sports and integrate sportspersons into the mainstream. The aim, he said, was to ensure that talent emerging from villages could reach international standards. Yadav emphasised that athletes would receive nutritious food suited to modern requirements, adequate resources, medical and therapy facilities, and proper care during injuries.
“The Samajwadi Party government will not allow any games to be played with sports,” Yadav declared. He further announced a substantial enhancement in the Yash Bharati award. The one-time award amount would be raised from ₹11 lakh to ₹21 lakh, while the monthly honourarium would be increased from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. Yadav criticised the BJP government for discontinuing the Yash Bharati awards that were earlier given to athletes, poets, litterateurs and musicians. “The BJP government does not respect anyone,” he remarked.
Prior to the press conference, international mountaineer Sagar Kasana submitted a detailed memorandum to Yadav outlining several demands related to sports development. The memorandum called for an increase in the sports budget, formulation of a uniform and transparent sports funding policy, establishment of sports hubs at the divisional level, and expansion of sports facilities at the district level. It also sought sports science centres at the divisional level, playgrounds at the block level, and permission to open government school playgrounds for athletes and youth after school hours.
Other key demands included the creation of a talent identification system at the district level, provision of business loans for sportspersons, housing facilities for international athletes, monthly pensions for winners of national and state awards, institution of state-level sports and adventure awards, free bus travel for athletes, and encouragement of gyms and fitness centres. Hasnuddin Siddiqui, in-charge of the party’s sports wing, also raised several issues concerning sports and athletes during the meeting.
The sportspersons and coaches present welcomed Yadav’s assurances and expressed hope that a Samajwadi Party government would bring about transformative changes in the sports sector. Yadav reiterated that the dignity of athletes and their holistic development would remain among the top priorities of the Samajwadi Party. Through the press conference, he sent a clear message that the party regards sports not merely as entertainment but as an important instrument of nation-building.
