Report by OD bureau; New Delhi: Union Youth Affairs & Sports has sanctioned Rs7.61 crore to Odisha. The funds are meant for the development and maintenance of playfields, procurement of sports consumables, including payment of honorarium to Kridashrees.

Along with Odisha centre has sanctioned funds to Karnataka, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under this scheme. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has sanctioned the Central Assistance of Rs. 17.85 crore in the month of July, 2012 to these states. The funds are meant for the development and maintenance of playfields, procurement of sports consumables, including payment of honorarium to Kridashrees (i.e. community coaches) and for conduct of sports competitions under Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) . Odisha got highest amount under this program in the month of July, 2012.

Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) aims at development and maintenance of playfields in village and block panchayats across the country and organizing annual sports competitions from block to national levels is implemented through the State Government/UTs.

Under the PYKKA, which  was introduced in 2008-09, playfields are developed and maintained in villages and block panchayats across the country in a phased manner and competitions are conducted annually at block, district, state and national level. 51,759 village panchayats and 1,538 block panchayats have been covered under the PYKKA Scheme, during the last four years (2008-09 to 2011-12) for development and maintenance of playfields.