Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the emerging football hub on June 27 and meet with approximately 100 of the best footballers in Shahdol district, Madhya Pradesh. This district kick-started the ‘Football Kranti’ movement two years ago with over 1,000 clubs in villages, which created such an impact that the Prime Minister himself will witness the revolution.
The three-tier Football Kranti concept began with the founding of over 1,000 football clubs in villages in Shahdol district, containing a substantial tribal population of the Gond tribe and the vulnerable and backward Baiga tribe. The prime objective of this initiative was to motivate kids in every village to play football.
At present, every gram panchayat in Shahdol has at least one football club, and around 85 tournaments were organised last year, including two state-level tournaments in both girls and boys categories. The competition was organised at the inter-panchayat, inter-block, and inter-district levels, gaining momentum as the initiative progressed.
The local campaign began with a vision to divert the youths’ minds from addictions towards sports, which would assist in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and could become a source of income. It was chosen to play football because it is a sport that gives maximum output with minimum input, and even someone coming from a financially weak background can play the sport.
The Football Kranti movement has received support from various departments, including school education and sports and youth welfare departments. Shahdol divisional commissioner Rajeev Sharma stated that the movement was started with the help of various departments to inspire youth towards sports.
To ensure a successful and unique experience for the prime minister’s visit, an ambience of a chaupal has been created, where he will interact with locals and indulge in local tribal cuisine. A significant impact has been made in the district of Shahdol with the introduction of this movement.
