Minister for Youth and Sports Maheshwar Gahatraj complained that the budget allocated for the ministry was very low compared to the ministry's work responsibilities, development, and expansion of sports and population.
At today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Education and Health Committee, he said that he felt that the issue of the state's understanding of sports as an unproductive sector was clear from the budget allocation. Minister Gahatraj said, "1.16 percent of the national budget has been allocated for ministries and subordinate bodies. It seems that this budget has been allocated out of compassion and not out of necessity.
Stating that there is a lot of challenge to keep the morale of the players high from the allocated budget and make it internationally competitive, he wondered whether this budget would help in laying the foundation for empowering the youth.
Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Damodar Regmi, informed that the draft is being finalized by including the opinion of the stakeholders in the National Sports Development Rules.
Presenting the details of the progress being made by the ministry and its subordinate bodies, he said that basic sports training was being provided to 21,000 players from all over the country for 37 sports to be included in the national competition. It was informed on the occasion that regular training is being conducted for 750 athletes from 26 sports including the Asian and Olympic Games.
Earlier in the meeting, the member expressed concern over the low level of capital expenditure in the budget and suggested that the ministry's strength is needed to achieve quality results by making the sports sector a priority of the nation.
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