Gill meets Prince Phillip, seeks help to save fields

London: India`s Sports Minister M S Gill met Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and sought support in carrying forward the objectives of preserving playing fields in India.

"The National Playing Fields Association of India (NPFAI) has entered into a partnership and exchanging experience and expertise for mutual benefits with the National Playing Fieldings Association UK," Gill told reporters. Gill said the number of playing fields is dwindling in India."Even those existing are being grabbed. It is our effort to protect, preserve and create more playing fields," Gill said, adding that the Association would act as a pressure forum to preserve the playing fields for children of India. "We will fight all those who gobble up children`s playing fields," Gill said, adding he has already written to Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal in this regard."The Duke held detailed and warm discussion and congratulated that such a body (NPFAI) has been set up," Gill said. The NPFAI, headed by Gill, was established in February to "Protect, Promote and Preserve" playing fields and open spaces in the country and to evolve a national policy on playing fields, playgrounds, play pitches, parks and open spaces. Bureau Report