Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday said the Government was in the process of finalising a national sports code to efficiently run sports organisations.
While talking to media persons here, he said, "We are preparing the National Sports Code to bring transparency and efficiency in the sports organisations and various federations."
The Minister was here to participate in a sports award function organised by the Madhya Pradesh Government.
"It (running sports organisations) depends on the capabilities of the persons sitting at the helm of affairs. I believe that good people would come in this field," said Rathore, who won a silver medal in shooting in 2004 Athens Olympics. He further said the Government's focus was to promote sports among the schoolchildren.
"Our focus is to ensure that sports can reach every child. We have started the 'Khelo India' programme to achieve this target. Under various schemes so far, the funds have been spent on infrastructure. This (infrastructure) ultimately proved white elephants," he said, adding that funds would now be spent under 'Khelo India' to provide a platform to young sportspersons.
Rathore also said his ministry has made a provision of Rs 40 crore for the school games, which would be telecast live.
"We want the names of schools should also be mentioned along with States in the medal tally. We will select 1,000 sportspersons every year. These would be given a scholarship of Rs 5 lakh every year for a period of eight years," he added.
Rathore said his ministry has recommended to the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry to hold three to five sports periods every week in the schools.
"The officials of sports ministry were being treated as VIPs. Now this will not happen. Sportspersons and viewers are important and our focus would be around them. We will prepare the data so that the funds would reach to the grass root coaches," he signed off.