State govt. ramps up investment in sports and youth welfare: Minister

The TDP-led NDA government has laid special emphasis on infrastructure development, athlete welfare and youth empowerment during its two years in office, Minister for Transport, Youth Affairs and Sports Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat in Velagapudi, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy outlined the initiatives taken by the department to strengthen sports infrastructure and promote youth development across Andhra Pradesh.

Under the Khelo India scheme, modern sports complexes and infrastructure projects worth ₹75 crore are being developed in Vijayawada, Kuppam, Srikakulam, Rajamahendravaram and Guntur. Multi-purpose indoor sports complexes at Vizzy Stadium in Vizianagaram and Sri Padmavati Mahila Viswavidyalayam in Tirupati have already been inaugurated, he said.

Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said Sports Development Centres are being established in every Assembly constituency. Of these, 46 centres have been completed, while work on another 91 is in progress.

Highlighting the government’s support for sportspersons, he said cash incentives amounting to ₹5.60 crore had been distributed to athletes who won medals in international competitions. In addition, ₹19 crore had been provided to 429 sportspersons who excelled in various disciplines.

The reservation quota for sportspersons in government jobs has been enhanced from 2% to 3%, enabling 819 athletes to secure government employment during the past two years, he said.

To identify and nurture sporting talent, competitions are being conducted in 31 disciplines under the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) League across the State. Sports academies in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Tirupati, which had remained closed earlier, have also been reopened and are now providing training in 13 disciplines, he added.

On youth welfare initiatives, Mr. Ramprasad Reddy said awareness programmes were being conducted on issues such as drug abuse, cybercrime and women’s safety. The department was also encouraging youth participation in social service activities, including blood donation drives and health camps.

Youth Welfare and Sports Department Special Chief Secretary Ajay Jain and SAAP Managing Director S. Bharani were present.