PM INAUGURATES ALL INDIA SPORTS
CONGRESS 2003
Xth
PLAN OUTLAY INCREASED TO RS. 1145 CRORES FROM RS. 472 CRORES
SPORTS
DEVELOPMENT FUND RENAMED AS PRIME MINISTER’S SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
FUND
The Prime Minister,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee today inaugurated the All India Sports
Congress at Vigyan Bhawan. The day-long Congress organised after
a span of 40 years, was held to discuss the implementation of
National Sports Policy; Resource Generation for Promotion of Sports
and Excellence in National and International Championships and
Implementation of Prime Minister’s Ten Point suggestions for development
of sports in the country.
The Prime Minister
gave the motto of ‘Fit and Strong India’ on the occasion and urged
the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Youth
Affairs and Sports to chalk out a time bound plan to make sports
an integral part of educational curriculum. He renamed the Sports
Development Fund as Prime Minister’s Sports Development Fund.
Making a few suggestions
for National Sports Policy, the Prime Minister said that guidelines
of MP Local Area Development Scheme may be amended to use upto
Rs. 20 lakh per annum for purchase of sports equipment and creation
of infrastructure. The Prime Minister said that all new housing
colonies, schools and colleges should be mandated to create infrastructural
facilities for sports and Ministry of Rural Development may consider
spending a portion of its budget for creating sports infrastructure
in rural areas.
The Union Minister
for Sports and Youth Affairs, Shri Vikram Verma thanked the Prime
Minister for his active interest in sports and welcomed the increase
in outlay for sports in the Xth Plan to Rs. 1145 crores from Rs.
472 crores in the IXth Plan. The Minister said that this is a
very promising point in Indian Sports and lauded the efforts of
the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for the improved performance
of Indian sports persons. He said that out of 70 medals won by
India in Manchester, 30 were won by the trainees of Sports Authority
of India. Similarly, out of 36 medals won by India in Asian Games,
14 medals were won by SAI trainees. He also sought the cooperation
of State Sports Ministers as sports is a State subject. He promised
to work hard to fulfil the assurance given to the Prime Minister
about India winning Gold medals in the forthcoming Athens Olympics.
The Union Minister
for Human Resource Development, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi suggested
that Indoor Games facilities should be provided when buildings
of educational institutions are built and sports should be a necessary
part of curriculum. Sports teach us team spirit and killer instinct
to reach the goal, he added.
The President of
All India Council of Sports, Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that
Prime Minister’s Sports Development Fund should be made like PM’s
Relief Fund. This suggestion was accepted by the Prime Minister.
Shri Malhotra said that this would attract more contributions
from organisations and individuals alike. He also suggested that
Business Houses should adopt one game each at State and National
level.
Shri Vijay Goel,
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports; Shri Suresh
Kalmadi and Shri Randhir Singh from Indian Olympic Association
were where among those present at the inaugural function along
with eminent sports-persons, sports administrators and officers
from Centre and States.
After the inaugural
session, the Ministers of Sports from various States spoke on
ways to develop sports. This was followed by a discussion in which
Arjuna Awardees and Sports Administrators participated and gave
various suggestions and their own point of view regarding the
malaise affecting Indian sports and means to correct it.
