Two proposed synthetic turf football grounds in Manipur, constructed under the Khelo India Scheme, which Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh L Mandaviya claimed were 100 per cent complete, remain unfulfilled or incomplete even today. Ironically, one had been inaugurated without meeting their intended criteria.
The Khelo India Scheme, aimed at promoting grassroots sports and developing infrastructure across India, saw an allocation of Rs 900 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25.
During the recent Lok Sabha session on July 22, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya disclosed the allocation and release of funds under the scheme since its inception.
For Manipur, a total of Rs 46.71 crore has been sanctioned for eight projects aimed at enhancing local sports infrastructure. However, concerns have arisen regarding the actual completion of these projects, particularly the two designated for synthetic turf football fields.
The construction of a synthetic turf football ground and a Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) gallery at Hiyangthang Kangjeibung, in the Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency, remains incomplete, with no signs of inauguration during a recent inspection.
Similarly, the synthetic turf football ground and RCC gallery at Hao Ground, Singjamei Chingamathak, in the Imphal West district, also remain unfinished but were inaugurated without fulfilling its intended criteria.
Both constituencies are represented by ruling BJP MLAs, namely Soraisam Kebi Devi and Cabinet Minister Y Khemchand, respectively.
The two football grounds, located at Hiyangthang Kangjeibung and Hao Ground, were supposed to feature synthetic football turf. However, recent inspections revealed that both sites still only have grass.
Mandaviya informed the Parliament that these projects were 100 per cent complete, a claim contradicted by the inspection findings. Sanctioned on July 12, 2018, Rs 3.65 crore was allocated to each project for the construction of synthetic turf football grounds and accompanying RCC galleries. No additional funds have been allocated for these developments, raising questions about financial oversight and project management.
Further complicating the situation, the RCC gallery at Hao Ground was inaugurated on March 7, 2023, by State Youth Affairs and Sports Minister K Govindas and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Y Khemchand (the local MLA), despite the absence of the promised synthetic turf. This has prompted inquiries into whether the ministers were aware of the incomplete status of the facilities.
During an interaction with Imphal Free Press, one of the players at Hao Ground (who wants to remain anonymous) said the Khelo India Scheme might have been launched to bring development in sports. The first thought was that the scheme would bring development from which talented players could benefit. However, ‘Khelo India’ has turned into a ‘Fail lo India’ in Manipur, the player said.
“We are players and we do not know who to blame. What we know is, provide us with good, proper infrastructure and we will give the best performance in sports,” the player added.
Critics of the scheme emphasize that sports enthusiasts, particularly children, were expected to benefit from improved facilities under the Khelo India initiative. Six years into the programme, the incomplete status of these football grounds raises serious concerns about the commitment of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry to fulfil its promises to the state.
Manipur has produced many football talents, with some representing India in international matches. Notably, India’s first footballer to play professionally in the Australian league, Panthoi Chanu, who is also the goalkeeper for the Indian national team and Metro United WFC, hails from Manipur. Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Oinam Bembem, also known as the ‘Durga of Indian Football,’ is another celebrated footballer from the state.
The Khelo India Scheme aims to create state-of-the-art sports infrastructure across India, focusing on nurturing talent and providing athletes with better facilities. However, the lack of progress in Manipur suggests that much remains to be done to achieve these objectives.
As questions about accountability and project timelines mount, the citizens of Manipur are left wondering when, if ever, they will see the completion of these synthetic turf football grounds. The apparent neglect of these critical infrastructure projects by the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry raises further concerns about the effective implementation of national sports initiatives in the region.
