Sports Over Surgery? UP Minister Says Hospitals Could Become Obsolete
UP Minister Dayashankar Singh suggests that promoting sports could make hospitals obsolete and redirect medical funds to athletics.
In a statement that has sparked intense debate across political circles, Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister and Ballia Sadar MLA Dayashankar Singh suggested that a heavy emphasis on promoting sports could eventually render hospitals unnecessary. The minister proposed a radical shift in public spending, suggesting that funds currently earmarked for medicines could be better utilized if redirected toward sports to ensure a healthier populace.
The 'Fit India' Vision in Ballia
The controversial remarks were made during the inauguration of the 70th National School Football Championship in Ballia. Addressing a crowd that included representatives from 36 states and members of the local community, Singh aligned his views with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Fit India' mission. He highlighted football as a premier sport for achieving comprehensive physical fitness.
According to the minister, if a nation promotes sports on a massive scale, the overall health of its citizens would improve to the point where the reliance on medical institutions would plummet. He asserted that as support for football and other sports grows, hospitals could potentially be shut down, allowing the government to channel medical treatment budgets back into athletic development to keep people healthy from the start.
Sports as a Career Path
Beyond the health claims, Minister Singh used the platform to laud the sports policy of the Yogi Adityanath-led government. He emphasized that the state is transforming sports from a mere hobby into a viable professional career. To support this, he pointed out the following initiatives:
- Job Reservations: The state government provides a 2 percent reservation in government jobs specifically for athletes.
- Direct Appointments: High-performing players are being appointed directly to prestigious gazetted positions.
- Elite Roles: Examples of such appointments include roles as Deputy Superintendent of Police and Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO).
A Contrast in Policy
The 70th National School Football Championship, organized by the Education Department, is scheduled to run from November 2 to November 6, 2026. While the minister's speech was intended to champion the preventive benefits of rigorous physical activity, his words have created a striking contrast with the government's official narrative.
While Dayashankar Singh spoke of a future with fewer hospitals, the Uttar Pradesh government has consistently highlighted the expansion of its health infrastructure—including the establishment of new medical colleges and the upgrading of district hospitals—as one of its primary achievements.