Release funds for sports through banks

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday directed the Department of Sports to release funds for Panchayat Yuva Krida and Khela Abhijan (PYKKA) directly through banks.The Chief Minister on Wednesday reviewed the implementation of PYKKA in the State. PYKKA has been launched to create sports infrastructure at the panchayat level. The high schools in panchayat headquarters are running as the PYKKA centres. Besides creating sports infrastructure, funds are provided for purchasing sports equipment and organising events. The sports events, however, are being delayed as funds are routed though district and block offices.The school management committees will monitor the programmes and events of PYKKA. The programme will be launched in every block and panchayat during the next 10 years. PYKKA centres were opened in 1,246 panchayats and 62 blocks in 2008-09 and 2009-10.The Government has provided seed money of Rs 5 lakh at the block level and Rs 1 lakh at the panchayat level for the implementation of PYKKA. The PETs in the high schools where PYKKA has been started are named as ‘Kridashri’. The Kridashris get incentive of Rs 500 a month at the panchayat level and Rs 1,000 at the block level.Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Badri Narayan Patra, Chief  Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Development Commissioner RN Senapati and senior officials attended the meeting.