Silchar, June 24: The Mizoram government and Tata Trusts have come together to provide formal training to children between six and 14 years of age in the state.

Chief minister Lal Thanhawla yesterday launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan-Tata Trusts Grassroots Football Development Programme at Lammual Stadium in Aizawl. It will provide coaching facilities in football to 3,000 children studying in government and government-aided schools. The ceremony was also attended by state education minister H. Rohluna, sports and youth services minister Zodintluanga, footballers Jeje Lalpekhlua, S. Malsawmtluanga (Mama) and Lalrindika Ralte (Didika).

Lal Thanhawla said though Mizoram had scripted a successful story in the Indian football scene in the last couple of years, a lot remained to be achieved. "If women's football is encouraged, our women's team can climb up the global rankings much faster than their male counterparts," he added.

Under the SSA-Tata Trusts Grassroots Football Development Programme, 60 grassroots football centres are being established across six districts of Mizoram. Altogether 3,000 students were selected for training at these centres thrice a week after school hours.

According to the project, at least five girls must be selected for each centre. The project will cost Rs 2.73 crore. Biswanath Sinha, the associate director of Tata Trusts, said it will invest Rs 30 crore to set up centres of excellence in Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and BTAD in Assam. "Promising students will be sent to Germany for training under a major German Club for six years," he added.