The state government has formulated a unique system to mobilise public funds for sports development in the first ever ‘Sports Policy’ approved by the Cabinet on Monday.
The policy calls for the setting up of a ‘State Sports Development Fund’ which will be collected through a contribution of Rs 100 per year from the salaries of every state and central government employee, apart from others like MPs, MLAs and LSG members.
The sports department has been advised to devise a suitable mechanism to ensure the proper collection of the contributions.
The fund will be utilised to “assist sports persons nearing international medal-winning standards” by organising training abroad and offering specialist coaches and sports science support.
The policy also emphasizes on the integration of sports into the school curriculum by the academic year 2014-15.
A ‘Play a Game – Play for Fun’ scheme for enhancing the fitness of school students based on the results of the total physical fitness programme conducted annually will be introduced, the policy outlines.
It envisages constitution of a ten-member Athletes Commission – to advise the government on matters related to training and welfare of sportspersons.
The policy also calls for athletes to undergo fitness and skill-level checks once every year. It also emphasizes on recruiting coaches to the state sports council only on contract basis.
Though there is no detailed mention on ensuring jobs under the sports quota, the policy reads, ‘Efforts would be made to put an end to the talent drain, in a time-bound manner’.