Imphal: A one-day consultative meeting on the topic, “The Inclusion of Disability Sports in the Manipur State Sports Policy” was held today at Hotel Imphal (Sangai Hall).
The meeting was organized by the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Manipur in collaboration with dedicated NGOs working in the field in consultation with the Department of Youth Affairs & Sports.
N. Praveen Singh, IAS, Secretary (YAS), W. Birahari Singh, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Ng. Uttam Singh, MCS, Joint Secretary (TA & Hills), Dr. M. Akshay Kumar, President, Special Olympic Association; Dr. Mayengbam Veto Singh, MCS, Director (YAS) and C. Dhandapani, Regional Director, SAI- NERC, Imphal graced the function as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
N. Praveen Singh stated that sports must be inclusive, accessible and embedded in everyday life if Manipur has to sustain its identity as a sports powerhouse. Emphasising equitable growth, the State Government underlined the importance of disability sports, supported by adequate funding, institutional coordination and active community engagement, he added.
Highlighting sports as a vital component of education, the Chief Guest stressed the need to introduce structured sports training from an early age to nurture talent and revive Manipur’s rich sporting legacy.
Praveen also called for a comprehensive sports policy aligned with national frameworks while addressing Manipur’s unique requirements. Greater convergence among key Departments, including Education, Social Welfare, and Youth Affairs & Sports, was emphasised to ensure effective implementation of sports programmes, he stated.
Underscoring the role of infrastructure, he highlighted the effective utilization of existing sports hostels, including those sanctioned under PM-JANMAN, as training hubs instead of constructing new facilities. These hostels provide free accommodation, food and essential support, jointly funded by the Government of India and the Government of Manipur.
The Chief Guest further affirmed that plans are underway to upgrade sports facilities for persons with disabilities by providing specialised equipment, trained coaches and pathways for participation from grassroots to elite levels. Community sports, volunteerism and mass participation were identified as key drivers for building a sustainable sports culture, he stated.
C. Dhandapani lauded for holding a consultative meeting on the inclusion of Para sports in the Manipur State Sports Policy, describing it as a crucial first step towards building a structured pathway for Para athletes to reach the Paralympic level. Highlighting some practices being adopted in States like Kerala and Tamil Naduand national initiatives under the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, he emphasized the need for a dedicated policy framework for disability sports.
The Guest of Honour underlined key components of Para sports development, including athlete classification, talent identification, structured pathways, coaching, sports science, academic support, assistive devices and governance mechanisms. He stressed that inclusion in the State policy would lead to institutional support, clear operational guidelines, monitoring systems and financial backing.
Referring to the existing national systems under the Sports Authority of India, including dedicated Para athlete support wings and Nodal Centres, Dhandapaninoted that similar models could be adapted in Manipur as well. He also highlighted the importance of mapping children with disabilities through schools, standardizing classification tools and aligning infrastructure with suitable sports disciplines.
Concluding his speech, Dhandapani stated that while Manipur is already recognized as a powerhouse of sports in India, the integration of Para sports into the State policy would enable the State to emerge as a leading hub for Para sports as well.
As a part of the programme, Department of YAS presented an overview of disability sports in the State, policy frameworks, financial and institutional support systems with emphasis on the Sports Code.
Baroon Yumnam, NCPEDP–Javed Abedi Fellow, along with Laishram Ricky, deliberated on developing disability sports and inclusion in the State Sports Policy of Manipur.
Experience-sharing sessions were also conducted by representatives from various para-sports disciplines. Dr. Kiran Yendrembam shared insights on Para Fencing, Th. Budhinanda discussed IBSA initiatives, Athouba highlighted developments in Para Swimming, Luwang elaborated on Para Archery and Rishikanta spoke on Para Powerlifting.
Officials from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) presented on funding avenues, convergence and partnership strategies to strengthen the disability sports in the State. The programme also featured stakeholder inputs and an open discussion session.
Officials of YAS, SAI, Social Welfare department and representatives of NGOs attended the consultative meeting.
