JAMMU: Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Yasha Mudgal, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports (YSS) to evaluate departmental performance, youth engagement strategies, and upcoming initiatives to strengthen sports and extracurricular activities across Jammu & Kashmir.
During the review, she assessed ongoing departmental programs and directed the Director General (DG), YSS, to ensure year-round sports activities in all schools across the Union Territory. Emphasizing data-driven planning, she instructed the preparation of a detailed format to record student enrollment in each sport in both Government and private schools, enabling gap analysis and targeted interventions.
To boost youth participation, the DG was also tasked with analyzing youth engagement in sports relative to the UT’s population and comparing it with the national average. Special focus was placed on adopting best practices from States with high girl-child enrollment in sports to ensure gender-inclusive growth in the sector.
On scholarships, the Commissioner Secretary asked the DG to submit a proposal to enhance support for players and medal winners, recognizing and encouraging young talent. She also called for identifying encumbrance-free land, particularly within school premises, to develop zonal mini-stadia and expand local sports infrastructure.
In a bid to nurture grassroots talent, talent hunts will be organized across the UT, while plans for a Youth Culture Centre integrating extracurricular activities, including performing arts, were also discussed.
Addressing HR and service matters, the DG was instructed to update seniority lists, conduct DPCs on time, and expedite disposal of SRO-43, RAS, and RDA cases to ensure timely compliance with service guidelines.
Focusing on tourism through sports, the Commissioner Secretary suggested exploring Bhaderwah as a winter sports hub, especially for skiing.
During the meeting, the DG presented a detailed PowerPoint on the functioning of the Directorate. The session was attended by the Director General YSS, Special Secretary YSS, Director Finance YSS, Joint Director YSS Jammu, Additional Secretary YSS, Deputy Director Central, Deputy Director Planning, and other departmental officers.
