Bhubaneswar: Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, President of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and ASSOCHAM Odisha State Development Council Chairman has commended Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s profound vision for sports development, citing his address to the nation on the 79th Independence Day.
In his address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Shri Modi underscored the integral role of sports in national progress and highlighted a significant shift in societal attitudes.
“There was a time when parents frowned upon children spending time in play; today, the situation has been entirely reversed,” PM Shri Modi stated. “If children come forward in sports, take interest in them, parents are filled with pride. I see this as an auspicious sign.”
OCA Chief, Shri Mohanty lauded the Prime Minister’s remarks, noting that they resonate with the ground-level efforts to nurture talent and foster a sporting culture.
ASSOCHAM Odisha Chief particularly praised the ‘Khelo India’ policy, which the Prime Minister described as a comprehensive effort to develop the sports sector.
“To promote sports, we have brought forth the National Sports Policy—after several decades, we have introduced the ‘Khelo India policy’ in the country, so that there may be a comprehensive effort for the development of the sports sector,” PM Shri Modi said.
PM further outlined the policy’s goal to build a complete ecosystem for sports, from schools to the Olympics, by focusing on coaching, fitness, infrastructure, and equipment.
This holistic approach, which aims to reach children in the remotest areas, has been widely appreciated by sports administrators like OCA Chief Shri Mohanty.
The emphasis on creating a supportive environment and providing necessary resources is seen as a crucial step towards making India a global powerhouse in sports.