New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI): The newly formed Development Committee of All India Football Federation (AIFF) has decided an annual financial support of Rs 24 lakh be provided to each state association under the banner of the AIFF for development of football across India.
“This financial assistance may be utilised by the state associations for their women’s and men’s leagues, youth leagues, office space, equipment, and grassroots development,” an AIFF statement after a meeting here on Wednesday.
Currently, there are 37 state associations affiliated with the AIFF.
“It is a historic day for Indian football, and I can proudly say that the Development Committee has for the first time come up with definite plans of funding for the State Associations. I am sure with this support, we can encourage the states to take football to a new level,” said AIFF secretary general Dr Shaji Prabhakaran.
“Extending the funds is one thing, but we must make sure everything is done in a structured and systematic way. The priority is to see that every State Association functions optimally. Each state will have it’s own strategic roadmap. There are different aspects to each state, and they all need different plans. We are ready to work with each state to develop football across the country,” Prabhakaran added.
The Committee also suggested that the AIFF provide support to each State Association in the appointment of two key personnel for each state to hire their respective administration heads and technical coordinators. The state FAs may use these grants for the appointment of other personnel, if they have already hired full-time personnel in these posts.
A three-member committee, comprising Mulrajsinh Chudasama, Vijay Bali, and Ratankumar Singh Moirangthem, has been formed to devise the criteria for the grants to the committee, and come out with a policy on how the funds will be distributed and utilised by the states.
The Committee has been asked to submit its report by November 15, 2022. It recommended that each state strategise and develop it’s own strategic roadmap once the AIFF’s road map is finalised.
