Guwahati: Rupees 90 lakh in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund is generated every year to promote sports initiatives in the region, Chief General Manager (F&A) of Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd. (APGCL) Suresh Kaimal informed Business North East (BNE) at the trophy unveiling ceremony of the PROTECH Guwahati Premier Football League (GPFL), held recently.

“Our three subsidiaries, Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Limited (AEGCL), Assam Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGCL), and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), each contribute 30 lakhs to the CSR funds," Kaimal told Business North East.

The PROTECH GPFL officially commenced on December 11, 2023, in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Ashok Singhal, minister of housing & urban affairs and irrigation, and several other dignitaries.

The Chief Minister said that initiatives such as the GPFL will “contribute to the revival” of football's popularity in the state. Acknowledging the historical significance of football tournaments like the Bordoloi Trophy and the A-Division League, Biswa Sarma stressed the need for football to reclaim its position as one of Assam's favorite sports.

Minister Singhal commended such initiatives for promoting sportsmanship among the youth, citing the organization of "khel maharan" in various schools in rural areas of Assam.

14 teams, including prominent names like North East United Football Club, Oil India Limited, NorthEast Frontier Railway, Assam State Electricity Board, and two media teams, are part of the GPFL. PROTECH is the title sponsor, and the live telecast of the matches can be viewed on FANCODE.

Kajal Paul Choudhury, Joint Secretary of GSA, said that this is the first league where Rs 30 lakhs will be awarded to the winning team. 

“Eight more leagues for cricket, football, hockey, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, and athletics are coming up after March 2024, including the second edition of the Pride Cup cricket tournament," Choudhury shared with Business North East.

Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, managing director of Pride East Entertainment, who was also present at the ceremony, said that such platforms will open “new horizons” in the state's sports arena.

NRL Chief General Finance Manager Pratul Kumar Saikia, talking to Business North East, mentioned the NRL’s role in promoting sports for the past 10 years. 

He told BNE, "We are more focused on football, and our team has been trained by Bhaichung Bhatia Academy. I am thankful to GSA for such an initiative."

Delivering an address, Devajit Saikia, the General Secretary, Guwahati Sports Association, highlighted the league's role in providing a platform for football players in the state, emphasizing the need for restructuring Assam's sports infrastructure. “The ongoing youth and kids league saw participation from 124 teams comprising 1482 players, reflecting a promising start for the GPFL," he said.

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