Today Gujarat sports minister Nanubhai Vanani made announcement on new sports policy on behalf of sports policy.
The policy was developed with a mission to spread awareness of and promote sports culture in the state with grooming of sports personalities, benefits to students with sporting ability, annual benefits, performance and participation at state, national and international levels.
Highlights of sports policy are as under:
Job to Gujarat Sportsmen
State government offers announces scholarships and incentives to attract the youth to take up a sports as a career.
1) Class I cadre jobs to Olympic medal winners, Asian Games Gold medalists
2) Class II cadre jobs to the silver and bronze medalists of Asian Games
3) 2% of Group C of the total recruitment in Government to be reserved for meritorious sportsmen.
4) 2% of the total seats in the college including professional courses such as engineering, medical and other courses will be reserved for meritorious sportsmen.
Benefits to sportsmen:
1) Scholarships and training to top athletes under Shaktidoot Scheme to represent India in International sports events. Assistance in training, sports equipment, travel up to Rs 25 lakhs annually per player.
2) Annual benefit of Rs 65,000 per player to 1400 total players under Swami Vivekanand Centre of Excellence towards sports nutrition, stipend and traveling expenses for sports training.
3) Cash awards will be given to winners of National – International Championships for games such as Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Asian Games (Seniors & Juniors) and National Games and National Championships.
Motivation to Divang Players:
Special Khel Mahakumbh was organized along with Khel Mahakumbh to motivate Divyang Players. They should be provided with opportunities in order to display their talent. Attractive cash prize will be given to them.
Creation of Sports Infrastructure and Play fields
1) Efforts to provide at least 2000 sq yards of open field at a distance of 2 kms to play.
2) Land requirements for sports complexes to be earmarked in development plans of Nagarpalika.
3) Village Panchayats to earmark a plot of up to six acres for play fields in villages with a population of greater than 5000.
4) Multipurpose utilization of sports infrastructure for self-sustainability.
5) Involving private sector to create new sports infrastructure through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
Empowering Local Communities
1) To establish a Sports Development Council at Municipal Corporations, Prants, Taluka and at District level.
2) To create a committee in each village for the development of sports &fitness related activities.
Khel MahaKumbh and Khele Gujarat programs
1) To conduct KhelMahaKumbh (a systematic competition structure) to identify the talent from village to state level.
2) To train the winners of KhelMahaKumbh at Khele Gujarat Summer Camp.
3) To give assistance to organize National/ International tournaments and conduct National Games in Gujarat.
4) To organize Sports leagues in schools and colleges at Zonal and State level
School and College level sports performances
1) Inclusion of sports as a subject in the curriculum, at par with other optional subjects in a phased manner.
2) Guidelines will be issued for phase wise deployment of qualified physical education (PE) teachers in the schools.
3) Students while competing in state, national, international sporting events will be given flexibility in attendance.
4) 2 % of total seats in colleges, including professional courses to be reserved for meritorious sportspersons.
5) Marks for Sports will be given.
Talent Hunt and Training
1)DLSS (District Level Sports School) and Excellence Training
2) A Creation of District Level Sports Schools (DLSS) in each district of Gujarat.
3)To identify talent under Swami Vivekananda KhelPratibhaShodhAbhiyan from KhelMahakumbh and nurture talent in residential sports academies with the help of expert coaches, sports icons and support system.
4) To establish Gujarat Police Sports Unit – center of excellence as part of Mission Olympic Program in line with Army Sports Institute.
5) Identifying talent and giving specialized training to tribals in select sports.
Other initiatives:
1) Promoting sports tourism by taking advantage of Gujarat’s longest coastline, rivers, canals, mountains, and lakes.
2) To develop Water/Beach sports and Adventure sports in the state.
3) To set up sports goods manufacturing park.
4) To set up Gujarat Sports welfare fund especially for benefit of Ex-players
5) To promote various privately run sports academies by giving performance linked incentive schemes
6) Development of walking and cycling tracks in the state especially at pilgrim places, tourist centers, and forest areas.
7) Technology will be used for advancement of sports person and enhancing efficiency across all segments
The policy will have an all-round impact on the emerging sports paradigm with the government playing a pivotal role with active participation from supporting institutions, communities and corporate. This calls for the widest possible participation at all levels and the policy needs to be an enabler for this. This policy, therefore, will be path breaking and become a landmark in the development of the Gujarat. Through implementation of this policy, Gujarat will contribute significantly in making India a sporting powerhouse of the world.
