WB CM Mamata Banerjee To Launch 'Khela Hobe' Programme, Will Distribute Footballs To Sports Clubs

During her poll campaign, Banerjee had promised to distribute footballs among the clubs and students and was often seen throwing footballs towards the crowd to popularise the 'Khela Hobe' campaign.

Kolkata: The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee will kick off the 'Khela Hobe' programme in Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday. The slogan had been key to the Trinamool Congress' campaign during the State Assembly elections and it will be now, government’s flagship scheme for the youth. 

 A jingle on the slogan went viral on social media recently. 

Under the scheme, the state sports and youth affairs department will hand more than one lakh footballs to various sporting clubs alone with the ones registered with the IFA will get 10 footballs each, the CM has said according to media reports. 

During her poll campaign, Banerjee had promised to distribute footballs among the clubs and school students and was often seen throwing footballs towards the crowd as part of popularising the 'Khela Hobe' campaign.

"It has been decided that registered clubs will be given football of JOYEE (STRIKER) brand under the Khela Hobe programme to encourage the youth and students for playing football and thereby to developed sports activities in the State," the state government had earlier announced in a statement according to Times Now. 

The government further stated that the footballs which will be handed out to various sports clubs will be handmade by the state's refugee handicrafts unit. M/S Refugee Handicrafts will supply the footballs for this purpose well ahead of the programme," quoted Times Now.

Khela Hobe Diwas

Earlier, while addressing her Martyrs' Day rally virtually, Banerjee announced that August 16 will be celebrated as 'Khela Diwas' which will be marked by the distribution of footballs to poor children. 'Joyee' footballs that are being manufactured by Refugee Handicrafts under the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles Department will be distributed to the clubs. The department keeps distributing different sports gears, including for indoor games, round the year.

"'Khela Hobe' in all states until BJP is removed from the country. We will celebrate 'Khela Diwas' on August 16. We will distribute footballs to poor children," Banerjee said according to IANS.