Organisations must operate within legal frameworks: Minister Chaudhary

By Our Correspondent,Dharan, May 18: Minister for Youth and Sports, Tejulal Chaudhary, has emphasised that all organisations must operate in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Government of Nepal. Speaking at a cadre meeting of the Nepali Congress held at the party office in Dharan on Saturday, Minister Chaudhary warned that action will be taken against those that fail to comply with legal requirements.

Highlighting the government's increased budget allocation for the sports sector, he urged sports associations to function more effectively and regularly. “Associations must update their statutes, complete audits, and carry out administrative duties on time,” he said. He also acknowledged that many associations have been marred by internal disputes and called on them to operate transparently and lawfully.

Minister Chaudhary noted that the Ministry of Sports, under his leadership, has conducted more meetings than previous administrations and has allocated a record-high budget for both men’s and women’s sports leagues. “The ministry aims to become a model institution. As part of this vision, we have significantly increased funding for all sports leagues,” he said.

He further stressed the need to support and motivate players, noting that although there are coaches in all 77 districts of Nepal, the country still struggles to develop professional athletes. “To advance our sports sector, we must focus more on the players themselves,” he added.

The minister announced that the central government will prioritise the development of the sports sector by taking responsibility for 10 major stadiums across the seven provinces. Other stadiums will be handed over to provincial and local governments. Additionally, he revealed plans to introduce new programmes focused on the health, education, employment, and overall welfare of athletes and their families.

Koshi Province Football Association President Kishor Rai echoed the minister’s concerns, stating that the lack of service and support for players remains a major hurdle to progress in Nepal’s sports sector.

Also present at the event were Nepali Congress Koshi Province General Secretary Umesh Thapa, Dharan President Shyam Pokharel, and Mahendra Bahumukhi Campus Dharan President Prasan Rai, among other party cadres.