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New Delhi: Coal India Limited (CIL) to contribute Rs 75 crore to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) from its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund. In this regards an MoU has been between CIL and NSDF in presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur on Tuesday in New Delhi. The Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Nisith Pramanik, Secretary of Department of Sports Ravi Mittal and officers of CIL were also present on the occasion.
During his address, Thakur said that the valuable contribution by CIL to NSDF has come at an appropriate time in the backdrop of unprecedented performance by our sportspersons at the recent Olympics and Paralympics. He congratulated the Indian athletes for their best ever performance at the Paralympics and for winning 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. Appreciating the initiative of Coal India, the Minister added that with this a part of the funds generated from the mining of coal will go to chisel our sportspersons into 'diamonds' that deliver a podium finish.
Giving more details, Thakur said that the fund is used to promote sports in general and specific sports disciplines for achieving excellence at the national and international level. The fund is also judiciously applied for the modernisation and development of infrastructure. In the previous years, a number of PSUs have generously contributed to NSDF.
"The sports academies under SAI and LNIPE needed more hostels for the benefit of athletes. Coal India's endeavour to contribute substantial funds of Rs 75 crore towards construction of three hostels for sports athletes will bring ease of training and enhanced facilities," Thakur added.
Thakur further said that the signing of MoU for construction of three hostels at SAI academies at Bangalore, Bhopal and LNIPE Gwalior will strengthen the bond between the NSDF and Coal India. He proposed that Sports Authority of India and Coal India Limited should jointly set up a Sports Academy for furthering the cause of sporting culture in the country.
Thakur appealed to all PSUs, corporates and individuals to come forward and contribute generously to the NSDF as part of their corporate social responsibility and become stakeholders in India's journey to becoming a sporting powerhouse.
During his address, Pramanik said that Coal India has always supported the culture of competitive sports in India. He assured that the funds provided by CIL will be used judiciously and the project will be completed in a time-bound manner.
While Secretary (Sports) Mittal said that with the construction of hostels in these three academies, it will be possible to hold national coaching camps at these three locations. He urged Coal India to continue its valuable support to NSDF in the future also.
Ministry of Coal's Secretary Anil Jain said that it's a matter of pride for Coal India to contribute to sports development in the country. While it is their duty to support the talented sportspersons, it also contributes to the brand image of Coal India, he said.
Contribution to NSDF has mainly come from PSUs and PSBs. As of March 31, total CSR contributions received are Rs 170 crore and the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has made a contribution of Rs 164 crore its matching share.
From this fund, the Ministry has given assistance to organisations for infrastructure and setting up of academies, Assistance to sportspersons for their customized training and to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for athletes covered in Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
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