Centre, states push coordinated sports plan for North-East

IMPHAL — Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Tuesday underlined the “One Sport Discipline – One State” approach as a key strategy to streamline investment and strengthen sports development across the North-East.

Scindia and Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla co-chaired the third and final meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Promotion of Sports in the North Eastern Region via video conference. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Secretary of Youth Affairs Hariranjan Rao, sports ministers of Meghalaya and Mizoram, the Manipur Chief Secretary, and senior officials from the DoNER Ministry and the North Eastern states attended the meeting.

The review covered the progress of ongoing initiatives and discussed plans for a coordinated framework to strengthen talent pathways and high-performance systems. Officials also examined key components of sports ecosystem development, including scientific coaching methods, competition structures, last-mile infrastructure, and the establishment of high-performance centres and academies.

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States were advised to refine their priority disciplines and submit detailed proposals based on their strengths, available infrastructure, and long-term potential. The meeting ended with a shared commitment to advance the region’s sports landscape through coordinated planning, data-driven strategies, and close Centre–State cooperation.

In a separate development, members of the Joint Tribes Council, Manipur, met the Governor at Raj Bhavan and submitted memoranda outlining concerns and aspirations of the tribes they represent. The submissions included matters related to the 18th State Level Orange Festival scheduled to be held in Tamenglong district headquarters next month.