Lt Gen PJS Pannu Joins the Board of STAIRS Foundation

New Delhi. 25 October 2023 .The Society for Transformation, Inclusion, and Recognition through Sports (STAIRS), has announced the joining of Lieutenant General PJS Pannu on its Board. Lt Gen PJS Pannu, a distinguished second-generation Indian Army officer with a military career spanning almost four decades, brings a wealth of leadership, strategic, and operational experience to the not-for-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth and children of India.

Lt Gen PJS Pannu’s impressive career has seen him serve in some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments. He has commanded at the highest battle grounds on Earth, including the Siachen Glacier, where Indian and Pakistani forces have engaged in intermittent conflict since 1984, and has served on both the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Shri Ajit M. Sharan, IAS (Retd) and Chairman, Board of Directors, STAIRS said, “I am delighted to welcome Lieutenant General PJS Pannu to the Board of STAIRS Foundation. His distinguished military career, marked by leadership in some of the most challenging environments, brings valuable strategic and operational experience to our organization. His invaluable experience and commitment will significantly contribute to the success of all our programs and enrich the ongoing ‘One India One Goal’.”

Throughout his military career, Lt Gen PJS Pannu has undertaken various leadership roles and strategic responsibilities, including serving as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Services and Chairman of the Executive Committees of the Tri-service Think Tanks. He has also been involved in numerous operational and tactical operations, both within India and during international missions.

Contemplating his new role on the STAIRS board, Lt Gen PJS Pannu articulated his visionary perspective for the organization: “I envision India harnessing its abundant sporting talent, fostering it with discipline, dedication, and an unwavering focus on success. The recent historic performance in the Asian Games is but a glimpse of what we can achieve. STAIRS’ ‘One India One Goal’ program stands as a pivotal mechanism to realize India’s vision through its expansive grassroots sports development initiative. I am genuinely excited to contribute to STAIRS’ mission, working in tandem with the dedicated STAIRS team. Together, we are steadfast in our commitment to propel India into a sporting superpower, underpinned by passion, unwavering commitment, and relentless effort.”

Shri Siddhartha Upadhyay, President of STAIRS Foundation and Former Governing Council Member of the Sports Authority of India, warmly welcomed Lt Gen PJS Pannu, saying, “We are privileged to welcome Lieutenant General PJS Pannu to our team. His wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to empowering India will play a pivotal role in advancing STAIR’s efforts to prepare Bharat for the Olympic bid, in line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi. Together, we shall endeavor to transform the lives of underprivileged youth and children through sports, harnessing India’s abundant demographic potential to propel the nation toward sporting excellence. Our shared

dedication will contribute to a more robust, inclusive India, ready to excel on the global Olympic stage.”

STAIRS had announced the launch of its latest initiative, the ‘One India One Goal’ Program, a multi-year, systematic, and synchronized program for grassroots sports development in India this year in April.

This comprehensive program, based on three pillars – ‘Play to Play,’ ‘Play to Win,’ and ‘Play to Earn,’ aims to cover the complete lifecycle of a player.

It will be executed through the flagship STAIRS Funnel Model and will cut across 20 states and 20 sports, with a network of 4000+ trainers.

The ‘One India One Goal’ Program is designed to promote broad-basing of sports, identify and nurture talent through championships, and provide training, growth, and livelihood opportunities to young athletes. The program seeks to create regional centers of excellence and bring together people from diverse backgrounds to contribute towards making India a sporting superpower.

This initiative is aligned with the Indian government’s vision to transform India into a Sports Superpower and aims to create a participatory sports development model that involves participants, policymakers, and various stakeholders.

STAIRS believes that Lt Gen PJS Pannu’s invaluable experience and commitment to empowering India’s youth through sports will significantly contribute to the success of the ‘One India One Goal’ Program and STAIRS’ broader mission.