Union Ministers lay foundation stone for Rs 14-cr indoor sports complex in Karnataka’s Mandya

Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a Rs 14-crore multi-purpose indoor sports complex in Mandya under the Khelo India scheme , aimed at strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure in the district.

The facility will come up within the campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences at VC Farm in Mandya and is expected to provide modern infrastructure for indoor sporting activities while nurturing young talent from the region.

The ministers performed the bhoomi pooja for the complex and were welcomed with a massive garland made of jaggery, a well-known specialty of Mandya. Kumaraswamy explained the significance and reputation of Mandya’s jaggery , which is widely recognised for its quality.

Calling upon the youth of the district to actively participate in sports, the leaders encouraged them to strengthen the sporting culture in the region under the slogan “Khelo India! Vibrant Mandya!” and produce more champions in the future.

Addressing the gathering, Union Sports Minister Mandaviya said the Khelo India initiative is a national programme launched by the Centre to revive sports culture at the grassroots level and transform India into a leading sporting nation. He noted that the proposed sports complex in Mandya had been made possible through the efforts of his Cabinet colleague Kumaraswamy.

Mandaviya also praised Kumaraswamy’s commitment to the welfare of persons with disabilities and described the distribution of electric vehicles to persons with disabilities as a commendable initiative. He said such efforts improve mobility and also contribute to environmental protection.

Highlighting the district’s sporting legacy, Mandaviya said Mandya has produced several athletes who brought recognition to the state and the country. He cited Vikas Gowda and wheelchair tennis player K P Shilpa as examples of athletes who have enhanced the region’s reputation in national and international competitions.

The minister added that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had worked extensively over the past eleven years to strengthen the country’s sports ecosystem. He said the latest Union Budget allocated Rs 4,000 crore for sports infrastructure, compared to Rs 1,200 crore about a decade ago.

Union Minister Kumaraswamy said the long-pending demand for an indoor stadium in Mandya was now being met and assured that construction would begin soon.

He added that efforts were underway to bring industries to the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, including an Automotive Research Association of India testing centre, while CSR funds have been used to renovate 96 schools.

Following the programme, 388 persons with disabilities received electric vehicles under CSR initiatives of Tata Consultancy Services and the Steel Authority of India Limited. Additionally, Infosys donated 500 desktops and 100 laptops to government schools, and the Hinduja Group presented a state-of-the-art ambulance to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences.