KGFAS’s society urges Govt support to curb drug abuse through sports
Srinagar, Feb 1: The Kashmir Grassroot Football Academy’s Society (KGFAS) has appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, the Chief Minister, and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to address the challenges faced by the academy.
The society, through a press statement issued on Saturday, has highlighted the government’s commitment to promote youth participation in sports as crucial to keeping school-going children away from drug abuse and other social evils, stating that has become a serious and alarming crisis in the region.
“The society appeals to Lt. Governor of J&K and Chief Minister and also Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of J&K to resolve the issues being faced by Kashmir Grass Root Football Academy's Society, as the esteemed government is keen to attract and encourage the youth and school-going buds of J&K towards sports activities, which in turn prove for them to be prevented from being involved in drug menace and other social evils, which is presently a serious and alarming crime,” reads the statement.
KGFAS said that to counter these growing concerns, they have been actively engaging children aged 6 to 16 years in football training programs across Srinagar and its adjoining areas.
KGFAS, as per the statement, has stated that despite operating without external funding, the organization has established 25 grassroots-level football academies, enrolling nearly 10,000 young players in an effort to foster a healthy, disciplined, and sports-oriented culture.
In a press release, KGFAS urged the administration to provide financial aid and free access to sports grounds, as the high rental charges for fields have become a major hurdle in organizing tournaments. The academy stressed its alignment with government initiatives like "Khelo India," "My Youth My Pride," and "Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan", reinforcing its commitment to creating a drug-free and socially responsible generation through sports.
"We are working to transform J&K into a hub for sports and create sustainable opportunities for youth participation," said Zubair Ahmad Dar, NIS Football Coach and President of KGFAS. "Sports not only build physical strength but also instill discipline, teamwork, and leadership qualities among young players. However, our efforts are restricted due to financial constraints and limited access to playfields."
KGFAS, in the statement, has reaffirmed its broader mission to use sports as a tool for social change, advocating that education and sports are the best defences against drug abuse and other societal ills.
“As we seek guidance and strength, we stand united in our mission to engage school-going kids in sports activities along with the supports from J&K Sports Council and JKFA and refrain them from social evils, particularly from drug menace and mobile menace at grass-roots level,” reads the statement.
Highlighting the objectives, KGFAS states that they are working to transform J&K into heaven for sports. We are creating sustainable opportunities for our youth to take active participation in sports activities.
It states that KGFAS aims to engage youth in sports activities throughout the year with the support from J&K Sports Council and JKFA and DFA Srinagar.
Among the aims and objectives, KGFAS highlights preventing school-going buds from developing their nexus with health-hazardous activities and bad companies.
"To provide voluntarily game-skill-oriented training ranging in different age groups from 6 years to 16 years as the society has managed to establish about 25 academics at grass-roots level across the area initially in Srinagar, where in about 8000 to 10,000 kids are enrolled to develop and activate them and make it possible for most of them to participate in the football tournaments that may be recognized at the state and national level, even at the international level,” reads the statement.
With regard to the performance of the society, the KGFAS statement reads that the society was founded and organized having no funds because of no donations from any quarter, but it exerted a lot to carry on by defraying contributions by its active members itself.