Badal was addressing a function on the concluding day of Annual Sports Festival organized by NRI Brothers Sports Club and Gram Panchayat at Kalakh village, about 25 kms from here. The CM also inaugurated the newly-constructed stadium in the village.

He said that the state government will provide regular grants to the Rural Sports Clubs for the purchase of required sports equipment, so that the players can avail excellent facilities in their village. Appreciating the contribution of NRIs in the development process and sports organization in their villages, Badal said that if an NRI takes up any development project in his native village, the government will contribute an equal amount as grant.

Badal said that to encourage hockey, his government has given substantial cash prizes to Punjab hockey players, who were the part of Indian team, which won Gold Medals in Asian games and Commonwealth Games.

The CM announced a grant of Rs 10 Lakh for the improvement of the stadium, and presented a cheque of Rs 2.50 lakh for development projects in the village. Former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha said that during the last ten months, funds amounting to Rs 5 crore have been spent on development works in Kila Raipur constituency.