Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced that the state government will support local football clubs financially.
Talking to Mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the Government will introduce a Local Football Club Support Scheme offering grants up to Rs 3 crore for elite clubs and up to Rs 15 lakh for grassroots and intermediate clubs.
“We would like to inform you that the government has also decided that we need to support our different clubs at different levels, and therefore, we are going to start the special program where under the government, we are going to support different clubs in terms of financial support, and we starting with football and as we move along, hopefully in other sports and disciples also, it will happen,” Sangma said.
Stating that local clubs will be divided into two categories, Sangma said one will be the Elite which has played I-League and above and other one will be grassroot and the intermediate clubs.
“…. the first one is what we call the elite clubs, which is the I- League and an above those clubs that make it to the I- League and above the government will support them with a grant of Rs 2 crores and an additional Rs 1 crore through sponsorship. This is a fund we are giving to support and to motivate clubs that are doing well. So this fund will be given to the clubs that are able to make it to the elite club, which is the I- League and above tournaments that are there at the national level so there are very few clubs in Meghalaya that could make it bout we are hoping that with this incentive that we plan to give which is Rs 2 crore and another one crore through sponsorship, We’re hoping that this could be a motivation for other clubs to start doing better and performing better in the future,” Sangma said.
Stating that the Government also realize that there many clubs that grassroots levels, which may not have the kind of talent and exposure yet to be at the elite club, he said, “So, based on different criteria and categories, we will work out more details on this but we do plan to come out with what we call the grassroot and the intermediate clubs, So we plan to support them up to 15 lakhs to these clubs also which can be in any part of the state and we will come out with certain criteria. Again this is being done to promote and to support football and also hopefully other clubs in terms of other disciplines in the future may be some other sports and other games that are there. “
The CM also discussed talent identification programs like the STAR Program and the hosting of various sports events at different levels.
“We’ve been giving a lot of support to the players and the athletes themselves, in different disciplines, we have come up with different programs, like the star program where these, we look at scientifically selecting candidates and sports, personally, based on the talent that they naturally have,” Sangma said.
Elaborating further, he said, “It’s a very scientific approach which has been done in many parts of the world and we are one of the first few states, who have adopted the scientific process of actually selecting different candidates and different sports persons.”
Speaking about Meghalaya Games, the CM said that the state is gearing up to hold Meghalaya Games in Jaintia Hills this season.
It was also highlighted that the government in collaboration with North East United Football Club (NEUFC) will soon have a one of its kind residential academy at Mawkhanu, New Shillong Township.