mysuru mahatma gandhi national rural employment guarantee act mnrega scheme which is primarily aimed at development of rural areas and alleviation of poverty by ensuring job opportunities has now allowed officials to improve infrastructure in rural areas as sports grounds can be upgraded for promotion of physical activities of rural children mysuru and chamarajanagar zps have initiated measures to develop sports grounds in villages to bring out rural talents and create interest in sporting activities all these years the rural development and panchayat raj rdpr department recommended zps to take up works like construction of check dams farm ponds rainwater harvesting rejuvenation of lakes building cowsheds promotion of horticulture construction of compound walls around government schools under mnrega now the department has proposed to all gram panchayats that mnrega funds can be utilized for the development of playgrounds gps have been instructed to utilise 2 funds meant for the department of youth empowerment for the promotion of sports in rural areas playgrounds can be developed on one acre to five acres depending on availability the government has set a target to develop sports grounds in every gram panchayat a synthetic track has been developed by karnataka public school grounds at lokkanahalli in hanur taluk of chamarajanagar by utilizing mnrega funds likewise the mysuru zp has developed a synthetic track and improved the playgrounds at karnataka public school at kampalapur in periyapatna taluk school authorities can contact the local panchayat development officer if their playgrounds need to be improved under mnrega the pdo will inspect the grounds and initiate works with the coordination of local authorities after taking necessary approval by including the annual project draft action plan said sources deputy director of public instruction of mysore ramachandra raje urs told toi that his department is now taking up work on developing playgrounds in schools in each gp by utilizing the funds available under mnrega all headmasters have been told to contact the nearest gp office in this regard he said chamarajanagar zp ceo km gayathri told toi that they have directed all taluk panchayat executive officers pdos as well as the department of youth empowerment and sports affairs to submit an action plan for the development of playgrounds