SAIL Khel Mela concludes; 1483 students participate

Bhilai, Apr 05: SAIL Khel Mela 2023 organised jointly by Bhilai Steel Plant and Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur with the objective of encouraging schoolchildren from the tribal region to take active part in sports concluded at Narainpur on April 04, 2023. As many as 1483 students from 36 schools in Orcha and Narainpur blocks of Narainpur district participated in SAIL Khel Mela. Among the games in which the schoolchildren participated were Football, Volleyball, Kho-kho, Badminton and various athletic events including long jump, races etc. 
It is worth mentioning that the SAIL Khel Mela is being organised since 2006-07. SAIL-BSP that has been organising various CSR activities in the region surrounding its Rowghat Iron Ore Project has also been actively promoting sports activities in the region. 
Anirban Dasgupta, Director In-charge, Bhilai Steel Plant was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony while Swami Poornanandji Maharaj, senior Sanyasi and Principal, Bramhachari Prashikshan Kendra, Belur Math presided over the programme. Swami Vyaptanand ji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur, Samir Swaroop, CGM I/c Mines & Rowghat, BSP, Devnath Usendi, President, District Congress, Narainpur, G Suresh, President, Chhattisgarh Handball Association were present as special guests. Also present were Sairam Jakhad, DGM  heading the Plant’s Sports, Culture Dept, Mohanlal, Gen Secy, Chhattisgarh Football Association, Jawahar Das, International Football Coach, Swami Krishnamritanandji Maharaj, Principal, Viveknand Vidyapeeth and other Sanyasis were present along with teachers and staff of schools run by Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur and schoolchildren participating in the games.
SAIL Khel Mela was inaugurated on April 01, 2023 by S Mukhopadhyay, ED (Projects), Bhilai Steel Plant in presence of AK Chakraborty, ED (MM), Swami Vyaptanand ji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur, senior officers from SAIL-BSP’s Mines Dept and members of Plant’s Sports, Culture Dept.
Addressing the gathering at the concluding ceremony, Dasgupta, Director In-charge, BSP hailed Ramkrishna Mission Ashram as an institution that is internationally reputed for rendering yeoman services in the area of education and its role in various welfare and spiritual upliftment activities. SAIL Khel Mela is being organised jointly by BSP and RKM, Narainpur since 2006-07 to promote sports among schoolchildren, he said, adding that there is a lot of sporting talent in the tribal children of Rowghat region which need to be nurtured. It has been Bhilai Steel Plant’s endeavour for the past many years to spot and nurture talent in sports. Here in this region, Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur has been the partner in this endeavour to promote sports and nurture sporting talent, he said. Today, many young sportspersons from this region are excelling in different platforms, he added.
Bhilai Steel Plant has had glorious journey in the arena of steelmaking and at the same time spreading the good cheer among people with the help of various CSR activities, Shri Dasgupta said, adding that now Rowghat Mines too is part of our journey ahead.  It is a matter of pride that world’s longest rails would be rolled out from steel made iron ore mines in Rowghat and that the ore mined here will be given shape to steel for use in Indian navy’s warships like INS Vikrant, in satellite launch vehicles in construction of large bridges over rivers, in skyscrapers and in construction of temples, churches, masjids etc. Dasgupta congratulated all those involved in organising the mega sports event.
In his brief address, Samir Swaroop, CGM I/c Mines & Rowghat thanked Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur and all sports officers and coaches from BSP for their role in organising the Khel Mela successfully. Congratulating all those involved in the Khel Mela, Swami Poornanandji Maharaj briefly outlined the objectives and activities of Ramkrishna Mission. Earlier, Swami Krishnamritanandji Maharaj, Principal, Viveknand Vidyapeeth welcomed all guests and dignitaries. Devnath Usendi, President, District Congress, Narainpur thanked Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur and BSP for having organised the Khel Mela.
Prizes to winners and runners up of different games were handed over to winners by Shri Dasgupta, DIC, BSP and Swami Vyaptanand ji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur. The team from Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur won the football event in boys category while Sports Complex, Narainpur team ended runners up. The team from Eklavya Vidyalay Cheribeda won in Volleyball Boys category while Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur ended as runners up. Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur won the kho-kho event while from Eklavya Vidyalay Cheribeda was runners up. The girls team from Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur won the volleyball event while the girls team from Eklavya Vidyalay Cheribeda ended as runners up. In the kho-kho girls event, Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur won while team from Ma Sharda Vidyalaya, Orcha ended runners up.
The programme concluded with Swami Vyaptanand ji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramkrishna Mission, Narainpur thanking Bhilai Steel Plant for carrying out various activities in the area of education, health and sports etc in Narainpour and Abujhmad region. He thanked all those involved in organising Khel Mela 2023.