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MAJOR DECISIONS AND INITIATIVES
SPORTS
The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series ‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
Preparation for Commonwealth Games 2010
The Group of Ministers in its meeting in January this year has finalised arrangements for the conduct of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in its meeting in January this year. Till 2007, the emphasis will mainly be on planning for and creation of the required infrastructure. The strategy of selection, training and supporting elite Sportspersons for winning medals is being worked out and a detailed plan will be in place on the basis of analysis of performance during the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2006. An amount of Rs. 10.88 crore was released by the Government towards the payment of Licence Fee.
Anti-Doping Measures
The Government of India has recently signed the Copenhagen Declaration in Anti-Doping in sports. A National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) as an autonomous Government Society for undertaking, promoting and supporting all anti-doping activities in India, is being set up. A Scheme of Dope Test has been formulated with the aim of preventing drug abuse in sports by providing technical facility in Dope test, creating awareness about the issue amongst athletes, parents, coaches, doctors, scientists and sports governing bodies.
Dynamic Categorisation of Sports Discipline
It has been decided to categorise sports disciplines as a dynamic concept-based on their performance in International Games like Olympics/Asian Games/ Commonwealth Games. The assistance to various categories of sports discipline would depend upon their performance in achieving excellence in recognised official international events. With a focus on Olympics, an Olympic to Olympic long-term development plan is being implemented.
National Sports Federations
For making the functions of various National Sports Federations (NSFs) more transparent and accountable, the Government has appointed Observers in important disciplines to observe the proceedings of important meetings of NSFs, including those related to selection of players for international teams.
National Talent Search Contest Scheme (NTSC)
Under the NTSC scheme, which is being implemented by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), 25 Navodaya Vidyalayas would be adopted during the year 2005-2006. Two new Special Area Games (SAGs) are being set up to tap sports talent in inaccessible rural, tribal and coastal areas.
Rural Sports Tournaments in North-East
In the North East, 58 Local Rural Tournaments at district level with an estimated cost of Rs.1.5 crore have been sanctioned. The Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangthan (NYKS) shall be organising these tournaments.
Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC)
Sports Authority of India has approved the establishment of 10 new ABSCs at Delhi Cantt., Bhopal (MP), Secundrabad (AP), Lucknow(UP), Faizabad (UP), Ramgarh Cantt. (Jharkhand), Meerut(UP), Leh(J&K), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Ahmednagar (Maharashtra).
Assistance to Promising Sports Persons
During the year 2004-2005, more than 200 elite Sportspersons have been assisted for training as well as foreign exposure and participation in international tournaments under various schemes which is 141 per cent higher than 2003-04.
Enhanced Scales of Sports Awards
For giving encouragement and motivation to sports persons, the scale of awards under the various schemes implemented by the Government have been suitably enhanced. Welfare measures, such as provision for pension, one time grant to sports persons, have also been revised which will benefit many needy Sportspersons.
Sports Infrastructure
Under the sports infrastructure schemes, 1,354 projects were assisted during 2004-05 with a financial assistance of Rs. 38.99 crore.
International Year for Physical Education and Sports
A Plan of Action is under implementation to observe the Year 2005 as the International year for Physical Education and Sports as declared by UNESCO. The State Governments have been informed accordingly.
Budgetary Allocations & Gender Budgeting
The financial performance of the Ministry during 2004-05 has been nearly hundred per cent (99.33 %) of its Budgetary Allocations. Corresponding physical targets have also been achieved. The allocated funds for the North-East have been fully sanctioned. A Cell on North-East has been created in the Ministry.
As a first ever exercise, Gender Budgeting has been drawn up allocating about 30 per cent of Plan Budget covering programme funds under various schemes for women beneficiaries for the year 2005-06. With a view to ensuring adequate coverage for girls/women, it has been decided that under all schemes being implemented through NGOs, 30 per cent programmes shall be sanctioned exclusively for women/girls.
Representation to Socially Backward Communities
With a view to providing adequate representation to SC / STs and OBC, a stipulation has been made in the sanction letters that due representation should be given to them in all schemes and programmes.
IT Initiatives
The website of the Ministry (http://yas.nic.in) has been redesigned and is regularly updated. A list of sanctioned projects assigned to various organisations is also placed on the site. To ensure transparency and access to information, a Sports Portal called “Sportal” (http://sportal.nic.in) has been launched in November, 2004.
RK:LV
PIB SF-7 (8.5.05)
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