Fate of new sports policy uncertain

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 17

A new policy prepared to give a major thrust to sports has been put on the back burner due to objections raised by a Cabinet minister, thus dealing a blow to the dreams of many sportsmen and sportswomen.

The new sports policy carefully prepared by a team of experts led by ace shooter and Padma Shri Jaspal Rana will now come up next year only if the Department of Sports sets aside the objections raised by Pritam Singh, Minister for Home affairs.

The first sports policy of the state was brought out during the tenure of former Chief Minister ND Tiwari in 2006 and the then Sports Minister Pritam Singh had got all the credit. However, much has changed since then and a new policy has been framed under present Sports Minister Dinesh Agarwal considering the demands of the day. While Dinesh Agarwal proposed the new policy, Pritam Singh objected to it. As a result, the policy could not be approved at the Cabinet meeting on November 19.

“Former Sports Minister Pritam Singh wanted to know the reasons behind the need to bring changes in the existing policy and also how the new policy was better. Essentially, we have to rework on the policy and stonewall opposition by the minister who seems uncomfortable with the changes being proposed,” said a senior official in the Department of Sports.

If the existing sports policy has to be rated in terms of results, it has failed to deliver and produce medal winners at the national and international levels. At the same time, taking lessons from neighbouring Haryana, the new sports policy has proposed long and short term plans. “We have prepared a road map for the state so that we produce winners. We have identified areas where our girls and boys have natural inclination and have made a mark. They require a push through proper training and infrastructure,” said Dinesh Agarwal.