With a view to produce international-class sportspersons and develop world-class sports infrastructure in the State, the Gujarat Government announced an integrated sports policy on Wednesday.
In the policy the State Government attempted to give incentives to sportsmen and women and decided to reserve 2 per cent Government jobs in Class-3 categories for meritorious sportspersons. Another feature of the policy presented in the Gujarat Assembly is Class-1 jobs for Olympic and Asian Games medal winners. Even provision for Class-2 category jobs in the State Government has been made in the policy for the winners of silver and bronze medals in Asian Games.
While presenting the sports policy in the House, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Sports Nanubhai Vanani said that over the past few years, the State Government has taken few initiatives to put Gujarat on world sports map just like many other fields. “The idea of announcing the new sports policy is to provide sports platforms through various Government schemes to every person of the State. Since last six years, Gujarat Government is organising ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ successfully, which gave platform to many upcoming players,” said Vanani.
He further said that just health and education for all, the State Government intend to make sports for all. Through the policy, the Government will give encouragement to establish dedicated schools and colleges for sports as well as sports academies.
As far as the sports infrastructure is concerned, the policy aimed to maintain existing sports facilities including grounds and sports complexes and encourages new development in the infrastructure through Public Private Partnership.
The policy also aimed to involve corporates, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), NGOs and local self-Government bodies for the creation of international class sports infrastructure in the State.
The sports policy would also encourage those organisations or individuals who want to organise local as well as national level tournaments in the State. The policy also mentioned about summer camps for talented budding sports-persons. It also includes water and beach sports as Gujarat has the longest coastline in the country. The sports minister also mentioned about promoting traditional sports as well as sports tourism. The new sports policy also addressed issue of sports nutrition and setting up of public fitness centres across the State.