Govt allocates Rs 384.24 crore for sports budget with focus on National Games

The State government has also allocated Rs 2 crore for the creation and implementation of the newly formed Goa State Youth Commission. The government has also introduced cluster basis appointment of 150 physical education teachers on a contract basis to teach in 800 government primary schools.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant while presenting the budget also proposed digitisation of services for booking of sports facilities and e-office will be completed by May. He also proposed to allow advertisements on boards and boundary walls in sports complexes to generate revenue for the State exchequer.

Meanwhile, the total allocation to Sports Authority of Goa has been raised to Rs 75 crore. Also, Rs 26.50 crore is reserved as capital expenditure for 18 projects. "I have increased the allocation to Sports Authority of Goa

to Rs 75 crores in FY 2023. We have made a provision of Rs 26.50 crore as Capital Expenditure for the development of 18 small and big projects," Sawant said.

The Sawant government has also proposed to amend the grant scheme to the Goa Football Development Council with a provision of Rs 6 crore. The government has also earmarked Rs 88 lakh as financial assistance to sportspersons in difficult circumstances. The government has made a provision of Rs 13 lakh under the amended scheme for the recruitment of national athletes for Coaching Diploma at the National Institute of Sports. Sawant also announced that sportspersons who win gold medals in national and international competitions would be considered for regular government employment. He also stated that the sports associations can avail of government funding for the hiring of good coaches.