Kolkata: Keeping in view the impact it has on people, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged local clubs to resist the attempts by a section of people to spread canards.
Banerjee was speaking at the Khelashree programme organised by the state Youth Services and Sports department at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Friday. Members of local clubs from different parts of the state attended the programme.
She said local clubs play a crucial role in their respective areas, which is why they have to come forward to resist attempts to spread canards. They also have to take steps against any sort of conspiracy to defame the state, Banerjee added.
"The clubs can play a major role in building a good society. It is the local club members who ensure peace and harmony in their respective areas," Banerjee said, adding that they can also work to keep their area clean and green.
In the same breath, the Chief Minister directed the top brass of the state Youth Services and Sports department to introduce an online mechanism, using which club members can apply for any sort of support they need from the state government.
Banerjee said that the Youth Services and Sports department will act as the nodal agency to coordinate with other departments to extend support to the clubs. "If any club seeks help to plant trees in their areas, the Youth Services and Sports department will be coordinating with the concerned department to help the club. The department will coordinate with the Municipal Affairs department if any club wants to take up major cleanliness drive," she added.
She said club members can also approach district magistrates, inspectors in-charge of local police stations or block development officers in this regard, adding that the state government provides financial support to 26,000 clubs to take up sports activities and other development works.
Banerjee congratulated Mohun Bagan club for winning the I-league. She also congratulated East Bengal club for its centenary year, handing over trophies and cheques to authorities of both the clubs.
Eminent sports personalities were also felicitated in the programme. She also assured help to East Bengal club to set up a gate for the club's centenary year.
Announcing that a sports facility has come up in the memory of Amal Dutta, she also said that the stadium at Dumurjola in Howrah will be named after Sailen Manna.
The Chief Minister also wished the fast recovery of P K Banerjee and said that she had a talk with his daughter over phone on Thursday night.