Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 (UNI) The Kerala government has decided to set up a Kayika Bhavan (Sports Bhavan) to strengthen coordination and streamline sports-related activities across the state, reflecting its commitment to the comprehensive development of the sports sector.
The proposed Sports Bhavan will house the State Sports Directorate along with a newly constituted Sports Research and Planning Department. With this initiative, Kerala will become the first state in the country to establish a dedicated department for sports research and planning.
The new system aims to ensure effective coordination of sports activities in collaboration with sports councils of local self-government institutions.
A revised administrative framework, extending from the panchayat level upwards, is being introduced to implement decentralised, people-oriented sports development programmes.
Reviewing the government’s achievements in the sector, Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman said the state has invested around ₹4,000 crore in sports infrastructure over the past nine years. During this period, 369 new stadiums were constructed, while the number of synthetic tracks increased from two to 25.
Under the ‘One Playground in Every Panchayat’ initiative, playgrounds have already been completed in 167 panchayats. The Minister also highlighted the inclusion of sports in the school curriculum from the lower primary level and the appointment of 961 sportspersons to government jobs under the sports quota.
Emphasising decentralisation, he said sports councils have been formed in nearly 800 panchayats. To improve coordination between the Sports Directorate and these councils, defined responsibilities have been assigned to the Sports Director and the Council Secretary, while district sports councils have been entrusted with monitoring the functioning of panchayat-level councils.
The Minister further said steps have been taken to clear pending dues related to hostel mess operations and to ensure timely disbursal of grants to sports associations. An order granting district sports councils greater authority in the maintenance and management of stadiums will be issued shortly, he added.
