Need to launch a scheme to make `Sports of All’ in line with ‘Food for All’: Vijay Kumar Malhotra

New Delhi: Stressing the need to launch a scheme to make `Sports of All’ in line with ‘Food for All’ by enhancing the budgetary allocation from present, All India Council of Sports (AICS) president Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, on Saturday said the AICS would request the Union finance minister to enhance the budget allocation for promotion of sports in the country from Rs 917.62.00 crores to Rs 12,500 crores for promotion of sports in the country.

Prof Malhotra, who headed the All India Council of Sports as president during NDA-1, also chalked out the blue print to achieve the mandate given to AICS. The first meeting of AICS was held on Saturday, January 9, 2016, in the Conference Hall of Sports Authority of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (East Gate), New Delhi.

Many eminent Sports personalities and sports administrators, including PT Usha, N. Kunjarani, Limba Ram attended the meeting. The members present deliberated in detail the agenda items.

Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra, President, AICS hoped that the number of sportspersons qualifying for Rio Olympic Games will increase from present 60 to 80/90 as the qualifying process is on.. He further hoped that with the enhanced allocation of funds and intensive training facilities being provided to sportspersons, the medal prospects will improve.

Prof Malhotra said as few states spent more than Rs.80 to Rs.100 per capita on sports where as Central Govt. spends heardly Rs.8.00 per capita. This enhanced allocation will help launching many new schemes including `One Million Sports Clubs’ and `Financial Assistance to existing Clubs’.

He further stressed the need to introduce sports & physical education in school curriculum and make Yoga as compulsory subject. Members present requested the president, AICS to take up the matter with the Union human resource development ministry as national education policy is being finalized.

Ramachandran, President, Indian Olympic Association appreciated the suggestions and added that president, AICS should write to all district collectors of seven hundred districts to use their offices to impress upon the PSUs & business houses, MPs & MLAs and local bodies to contribute towards creation of sports infrastructure and supporting sports clubs as suggested the Hon’ble President.

PT Usha covered wide range of subjects, including drawing of order of events in athletics in junior group causing irreparable damage to youngsters, lack of proper sports infrastructure, dependency on foreign coaches, etc.
Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra stressed the need to bring uniformity in the Central and State Govt. Sports Promotion Schemes so that sportsperson do not face disparity of awards and other facilities. He further stressed the need to have uniform policy of reservation of posts for meritorious sportspersons in all Private and Public Sector undertakings, Army and Para-military Forces.

Regarding functioning of sports bodies dealing with Special Olympics and Paralympics, it was decided to discuss the same in the next meeting.

The following matters were discussed.

1. A road map has been drawn to achieve broad-basing of sports and to achieve excellence so as to make India a World Super Power in Sports by 2020.

2. It has been decided to advise the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports on the following issues:

i) In order to make Sports a Way of Life and to achieve the target of Sports for All, it is imperative that the budget allocation for Sports should be enhanced from Rs.917.62 crores (Plan Rs. 835.61 crores and Non Plan Rs.82.00 crores ) which comes to approx. Rs.7.35 per head for a country with a population of 125 crores. A minimum of Rs.100/- per head has to be allocated thus making a total of Rs.12,500 crores to launch the following schemes

ii) Revisit the schemes to promote sports in tribal areas with special emphasis on Left Wing Extremist Affected Districts in association with Ministry of Tribal Affairs. A separate allocation may be made to stress the need to conduct sports competitions and to create sports infrastructure in tribal villages.

iii) Promote Indigenous Games & Martial Arts in association with Ministry of Culture, by conducting regular competitions and also by providing financial assistance to the NGOs/Clubs promoting indigenous games & martial arts.

iv) Introduce Sports Science subjects in Medical Colleges and introduce Yoga in all wellness programmes.

v) Set up a Specialized Sports Academy for Differently Abled Sportspersons under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for which a separate budget allocation may be made.

vi) Amend the Schedule VII of Indian Companies Act so as utilize the funds available Corporate Social Responsibility may be utilized for overall development of sports instead of using the same for training purpose only.

3. Members present reviewed the preparation of Indian Contingent for Rio Olympic Games 2016 and expressed their satisfaction.

List of participants.