Jamshedpur, Nov. 13: The second anniversary of Jharkhand statehood would be celebrated on a large scale in East Singhbhum district. The district administration is putting the final touches to the weeklong programme.
Deputy commissioner Nidhi Khare told reporters here today that the celebrations would begin from November 15 and continue till November 21 at Gopal Maidan. “Our intention behind the gala celebration is to give an opportunity to all strata of society to participate in the bonanza,” she said.
Celebrations on the first day would begin with a marathon race, to be flagged off by superintendent of police Arun Oraon from JRD Tata Sport Complex. It would be followed by the finals of archery, kho-kho and football, to be held at the sports complex. The winners would be given certificates and cash prizes instead of medals.
“We feel that medals serve no purpose while cash prizes can be utilised better by winners to take care of their needs,” said the deputy commissioner.
The prize distribution would begin at 2 pm at Gopal Maidan.
The district administration has also decided to honour city-based sportspersons who have won accolades both for the state as well as the country in national and international sporting events.
“Three players, who have won international recognition and would be felicitated during the celebrations are Bhupinder Singh, silver medallist in 4X400m relay at the Busan Asian Games 2002, Chitra K. Soman, who won gold in 4X400m relay at the Junior Asian Athletic Championship, Bangkok 2002 and Sudam Mardi, who won silver in Soman’s category,” Khare added.
Khare said: “The government also plans to offer stipend of Rs 200 for ten months to those SC/ST children who show extraordinary talent and willing to take sports as a carrer.”
A committee would be formed to identify such children and initiate a special programme.
Free bicycles would be distributed to 500 girls from the age group of nine and 10 years belonging to the SC/ST and below the poverty line category as a part of the celebrations.
“The idea is to encourage the girl students to attend schools even if the educational institutions are located far away from their villages. Such steps will certainly yield positive results,” she claimed.
