Deverkonda meet of CIFA- Thums Up Rural
Games begins
Ravinder Kumar MLA inaugurates the two-day
meet
• Thousands to witness the 2-day tour of CIFA-Thums
Up Rural Games
•
Hundreds registered as participants in various events such
as Kabbadi
•
Indian Red Cross is to organize free medical and health camp
Deverkonda, May 28: CIFA-Thums Up Rurual Games was formally
rolled out here amidst thunderous applause by hundreds villagers
at the Zilla Parishad School Grounds after local MLA Ravinder
Kumar inaugurated the meet.
The grandiose opening ceremony was attended by Deverkonda
Mandal Praja Parishad President, P Narsimha Reddy, Primary
Agri Co-op Society Chairman- N Prabhakar Rao and local Mandal
Parishad Territorial Constituency Members.
Speaking at the occasion Mr Kumar said, "Companies
like Coca Cola are coming forward to extend a helping hand
to regain the spirit amongst the rural population at a time
this spirit is generally vanishing. It is praiseworthy that
organizations like Coca-Cola and CIFA are coming forward
to conduct rural games when farmers are not able conduct
such events faced with so many problems and difficulties.”
A large gathering of farmers from nearby villages participated
in the vibrant ceremony that marked the opening of the district
tour of the CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games 2007 organized by Consortium
of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) and Hindustan Coca-Cola
Beverages. After the current venue it will shift to over
a dozen other venues in 10 more districts during the next
few days creating an unparalleled opportunity for thousands
of farmers to participate in rural sporting games like Kabbadi,
Sack Carrying Race, etc.
With the aim of offering the villagers healthy benefits,
the organizers have also brought in Indian Red Cross to conduct
a health and medical camp at the venue. A medical team comprising
doctors and support staff is camping at the site offering
free medical check up and advices to the people who participate
and witness various sporting activities.
The meet will see hundreds of players participating in Kabbadi,
Sack carrying race in Men’s category and Rangoli and
Short-distance races in Women’s category. The Kabaddi
winners will get a cash prize of Rs 5000 and a trophy, and
the runner-up will get Rs 2500 as cash prize. Winner of Sack
carrying race will get Rs 3000 as prize money and the runner-up
will go home with Rs 2000 cash prize.
Similarly, in women’s category, winner of the Rangoli
contest will get a cash prize of Rs 1000 and runner-up will
get Rs 500. Winner of the relay running competition will
bag Rs 2000 and runner-up team will get Rs 1500 as cash prize.
Winners of the district-level competitions will also move
to vie for the top honours at the State level scheduled for
the first week of June.
Bringing a carnival atmosphere to the Games, organizers
are offering a cultural evening to the villagers with local
participants tuning to popular songs and offering a feast
of mimicry and dance in front of large crowd of farmers and
their families.
The CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games is being organized with the
objectives to channelize energies of youth towards constructive
activities and to strengthen the social cohesiveness for
sustainable development in villages. It is also aimed at
inculcating interest in sports among rural youth and help
spot hidden talent among them, besides instilling pride of
achievement amongst the rural folk.