Stadiums, Jobs, Sports University: Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta takes the "aerial route" with the sports sector in his budget

XtraTime Webdesk : With the aim of making the state a "national powerhouse in sports", the new West Bengal state government has announced new schemes and measures aimed at "revitalizing" the sports infrastructure in the province.

While presenting the budget on Monday (June 22),Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta emphasized that "revitalizing" the state's economy and society was the primary goal. Sports, too, came under the ambit of those lofty aims.

One of the highlights among the schemes announced is the initiative to "boost sports activities across all districts, opening up new opportunities for talented individuals in both rural and urban areas". They announced that a state-of-the-art sports university will be established in Bengal, offering international-standard facilities and research opportunities.

Dasgupta has also announced an international-standard stadium for North Bengal, with an allocation of ₹20 crore. ₹5 crore has additionally been earmarked for 'Mini Indoor Stadiums' in various locations with the aim of helping the residents of districts and subdivisions get access to sports facilities.

There is also some good news for sports clubs; clubs with national-level players will receive financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore. Medal winning athletes from Bengal will be offered job opportunities, with ₹50 crore allocated for incentives and support.

Sports Minister Indranil Khan stated that the government aims to scout hidden talent from the state's remote areas and provide them with world-class training and facilities.

With these announcements, the government wants to show that they are pretty serious about sports in the state. Only time can tell whether these will actually take place or be just promises that get lost in paperwork(often times the case).