Sports key to keep youth away from drugs: Minister

Education Minister Rohit Thakur today said the role of sports was important in keeping the youth away from falling prey to drug menace.

He presided over the closing ceremony of the 3rd Raj Kumar Memorial Kabaddi Premier League Tournament at Salna village under Kudu gram panchayat in Jubbal, Shimla district.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said games like kabaddi, volleyball and kho-kho were the traditional games of the hilly region. In the present times when the youth is getting trapped in the drug abuse, organising such games becomes an important and necessary step to keep them away from the menace.

“Besides helping improve the health of the youth, sports create a healthy competition, channelising the energy of the youth in a positive direction,” he said.

Thakur said Kudu was a border panchayat adjoining Uttarakhand and he had a special interest in the area from the development point of view. He said during his present tenure as Education Minister in the last about two-and-a-half, 124 roads had been approved in the Assembly constituency. Of these, four roads are in Kudu panchayat and the road of Salna village is also included in it, he added.