In a proactive move to channel the energy of young people in remote and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-impacted regions toward positive avenues, the Odisha government has rolled out a targeted component of the **GRAMODAYA** campaign focused on sports development.
The Department of Sports and Youth Services has allocated approximately Rs 2.42 crore to supply standardised sports kits to 485 carefully identified villages spread across 10 districts: Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, and Rayagada.
Each village will receive a sports kit valued at Rs 50,000, equipping local youth with essential gear for popular outdoor games such as cricket, football, volleyball, and badminton, alongside indoor options like chess and carrom. This initiative aims to unearth sporting talent from isolated areas, encourage physical fitness, discipline, and teamwork, while serving as a bridge to integrate youth into mainstream society.
A distinctive aspect of the program is its community-driven approach: the responsibility for procuring the equipment has been entrusted to local youth clubs. In villages lacking such clubs, District Sports Officers will guide the formation of new ones, ensuring sustained engagement and ownership at the grassroots level.
“GRAMODAYA transcends mere distribution — it carries a powerful message of peace, progress, and social harmony,” officials emphasised. By leveraging sports as a tool for development, the state government seeks to steer vulnerable youth away from extremist influences, highlight untapped potential, and foster a healthier, more disciplined lifestyle in these challenging regions.
This sports-focused rollout aligns with broader GRAMODAYA efforts to saturate government welfare benefits in LWE-affected areas, complementing ongoing security measures as Odisha advances toward eradicating Left Wing Extremism by March 2026.
