AIFF to provide Rs 24 lakh as yearly financial support to state associations

"This financial assistance may be utilised by the state associations for their women’s and men’s leagues, youth leagues, office space, equipment, and grassroots development," said an AIFF statement after a meeting on Wednesday.

Currently, there are 37 state associations affiliated with the AIFF.

“It is a historic day for Indian football, and I can proudly say that the Development Committee has for the first time come up with definite plans of funding for the State Associations. I am sure with this support, we can encourage the states to take football to a new level,” said AIFF secretary general Dr Shaji Prabhakaran.

“Extending the funds is one thing, but we must make sure everything is done in a structured and systematic way. The priority is to see that every State Association functions optimally.

"Each state will have its own strategic roadmap. There are different aspects to each state and they all need different plans. We are ready to work with each state to develop football across the country.” he said.

The Committee also suggested that the AIFF provide support to each state association in the appointment of two key personnel to hire their respective administration heads and technical coordinators.

The state FAs may use these grants for the appointment of other personnel, if they have already hired full-time personnel in these posts.

A three-member committee, comprising of Mulrajsinh Chudasama, Vijay Bali, and Ratankumar Singh Moirangthem, has been formed to devise the criteria for the grants to the committee, and come out with a policy on how the funds will be distributed and utilised by the states.

The Committee has been asked to submit its report by Nov. 15, 2022.

A ‘Brother States Programme’ was also suggested by the Committee where the states that are doing well would lend support to more than one states in the areas of governance, development, leagues, and grassroots, among others.