NATIONAL SPORTS POLICY 2001
THE PREAMBLE
Activities relating to Sports and Physical Education are essential components of human resource development, helping to promote good health, comradeship and a spirit of friendly competition, which, in turn, has positive impact on the overall development of personality of the youth. Excellence in sports enhances the sense of achievement, national pride and patriotism. Sports also provide beneficial recreation, improve productivity and foster social harmony and discipline.
A Resolution on the National Sports Policy was laid in both Houses of Parliament in August, 1984. The National Sports Policy, 1984 was formulated with the objective of raising the standard of Sports in the country. The National Education Policy, 1986 also incorporated the objectives of the Policy in so far as the Education Sector was concerned. The National Sports Policy, 1984 provided inter-alia, that the progress made in its implementation would be reviewed every five years to determine the further course of action, as may be necessary, following such review.
Over the years, it has transpired that even as the National Sports Policy, 1984 encompasses various facets in respect of encouraging sports in the country, the implementation of the same is not complete and leaves much to be desired. The goals and objectives laid down in the Policy are yet to be substantially realized. A need has, therefore, been felt to reformulate the National Sports Policy in more concrete terms, spelling out the specific measures required to be taken by the various agencies, which are involved, in various ways, in promoting sports in the country.
INTRODUCTION
In terms of the National Sports Policy, 2001, the Central Government, in conjunction with the State Government, the Olympic Association (IOA) and the National Sports Federation will concertedly pursue the twin objectives of Broad-basing of Sports and Achieving Excellence in Sports at the National and International levels. Sports activities, in which the country has potential strength and competitive advantage, need to be vigorously promoted. Towards this end, Sports and Physical Education would be integrated more effectively with the Education Curriculum.
While the broad-basing of Sports will, primarily remain a responsibility of the State Governments, the Union Government will actively supplement their efforts in this direction and for taping the latent talent, including in the rural and tribal areas. The Union Government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in association with the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations, will focus specific attention on the objective of achieving excellence at the National and International levels.
The question of inclusion of Sports in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India and introduction of appropriate legislation for guiding all matters involving national and inter-state jurisdiction, will be pursued.
BROADBASING OF SPORTS
Considering the key role of sports in national life and for inculcating national pride in the younger generation, the objective of broad basing, that is, universalisation or mass participation in Sports assumes special significance. It is imperative to ensure that the educational institutions, Schools and Colleges in both rural and urban areas; the Panchayati Raj Institutions, Local Bodies, the government machinery, the Sports Associations and Industrial Undertakings, as also the various Youth and Sports Clubs, including those of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) throughout the country are, and remain, fully associated with this Programme. Efforts will be made to promote and encourage womens participation in sports. The Union and State Governments, as well as the Sports Federations/Associations will endeavour to promote a club culture for the speedier development of Sports in the country.
In the National Sports Policy, 2001, high priority will be accorded to the development of Sports in the rural areas to harness the available talent and potential. In this context, the Village Panchayats/Gaon Sabhas as well as rural Youth and Sports clubs will be mobilized to facilitate development of the requisite infrastructure and for the identification of talent through an appropriate competition structure in the rural areas as also in the disadvantaged and remote parts of the country which appear to merit special consideration under various schemes including for the North East. Efforts will also be made for tapping such potential as swimming in coastal areas and Archery in tribal areas. The available talent will be nourished and actively supported. Geographically disadvantaged Regions will be extended additional support for the promotion of Sports. There has been a strong tradition of Indigenous and traditional games in practically all parts of the country through ages. Indigenous games will be promoted through schemes related to rural sports.
INTEGRATION WITH EDUCATION
The integration of Sports and Physical Education with the Educational Curriculum, making it a compulsory subject of learning up to the Secondary School level and incorporating the same in the evaluation system of the student, will be actively pursued. A National Fitness Programme would be introduced in all Schools in the country, steps initiated to augment the availability of infrastructure, including play fields/ sports equipment and action taken to provide Physical Education Teachers in educational institutions through, inter-alia, the training of selected teachers in these disciplines. Specialized Sports Schools may also be set up. An appropriate Inter-school and Inter- College/University competition structure would be introduced at the National, State and District levels.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The availability of adequate sports facilities throughout the country is basic to the development and broad-basing of Sports. In addition to the Union and State Governments, the sustained involvement of other agencies, including the Panchayati Raj Institutions, Local Bodies, Educational Institutions, Sports Federations/Associations. Clubs and Industrial Undertakings will be enlisted in the creation, utilization and proper maintenance of the Sports infrastructure. While existing play fields and stadia, both in rural and urban areas, will be maintained for sports purposes, the introduction of suitable legislation may be considered for providing open areas to promote sports activities. Steps would be taken to evolve low cost functional and environment-friendly designs in this regard, so that maximum benefits could be derived through relatively low levels of investment. Efforts will also be made to optimally utilize the available infrastructure and manpower and Special Coaching Cams organised, during the vacations, to provide intensive training to talented sports persons, even as they pursue their academic work.
EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS
The Union Government would focus attention on achieving Excellence in Sports at the National and International levels. Various sports disciplines will be prioritized on the basis of proven potential, popularity and international performance. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of such priority disciplines and the prioritization reviewed, from time to time. The IOA and the State Governments would also accord higher priority to such disciplines. In planning the development of various disciplines, the genetic and geographical variations within the country would be taken into account so that in areas of potential, in particular disciplines, timely steps may be taken to harness the existing and emerging talent. Centers of excellence will be set up to identify and train outstanding sportspersons including sports academies where young and talented sports persons will be groomed to achieve higher levels of performance in the international sports arena.
NATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS (NSFs)
It is recognized that the management and development of Sports are the function of the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations, which are Autonomous Bodies and who, in turn, have affiliated State level and District level Associations. The Government and other concerned agencies and the Federations/Associations have, therefore, to work together harmoniously and in a coordinated manner to fulfil the objectives of the National Sports Policy, 2001. At the same time, the Indian Olympic Association and the various Sports Federations/Associations will need to demonstrate orientation towards the achievement of results and ensure tangible progress in the field of Sports, keeping which in view, model bye-laws/organizational structures may be formulated for the NSFs, in consultation with them, and with due regard to the Olympic Charter, so as to make the functioning of the Federations/Association transparent, professional and accountable.
Acknowledging the importance of National Championships for developing competitive spirit and for talent-scouting, it would be incumbent on the Federations/Associations to hold Annual Championships in various disciplines in all categories, viz, Seniors, Juniors and Sub-Juniors (for both Men & Women) at the District, State and National levels. Each National Federation would draw up the Annual National Calendar of these events sufficiently in advance, every year, which would be compiled and published by the IOA. Greater emphasis will be placed on promoting the development of Sports amongst the juniors and sub-juniors and the more talented amongst them identified for Special Training and Support.
Effective participation in International Events, especially the Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games, is a matter of National Prestige. Participation in these Events has, so far, largely been restricted to those disciplines in which creditable performance is anticipated. The contingents to represent the country in such events need be chosen in due time, in the light of performance and promise, in National Championships and elsewhere. Long Term Development Plans (LTDPs) will be prepared for each Sports discipline, incorporating details of standard of performance, targeted levels of performance, participation in competitions at national and international levels, sports exchanges, scientific support and the holding of international competitions in the country. The implementation of the LTDPs will be reviewed periodically and the same would be continued, as a Rolling Plan year after year. The release of Government assistance would be considered on the basis of performance relating to the LTDP in question.
SCIENTIFIC BACK-UP TO SPORTS PERSONS
15. The significance of scientific-back up to Sports stands well established. Accordingly, action will be initiated to strengthen this area, in accordance with international standards. Experts would be associated with each Sports Discipline or Groups of Sports Disciplines, on a continuing basis, to provide the requisite support in terms of nutrition, psychology, medicine, pharmacology, physiology, bio-mechanics and anthrapometry as well as other branches of Sports Sciences. Suitable mechanisms would be introduced to achieve co-ordination between the laboratory and the field, that is, between the Coaches and the Sports Scientists, and particular care taken to ensure nutritional support to talented sports persons and to sustain their mental health and competitive spirit.
Appropriate research and development measures will also be initiated for the promotion of sports and to impart special skills to promising sports persons so that they are enabled to give of their best in international and other prestigious competitions. The SAI and other public and private organisations will be involved in such research and development programmes. The SAI and the NSFs would take coordinated steps towards the modernisation of the infrastructure required for the training of sports persons and to provide them with scientific support for achieving Excellence in Sports.
SPROTS EQUIPMENT
Suitable measures will be initiated to ensure access to sports equipment of high quality. While the approach to import of equipment would, no doubt, bear the long term interests of the indigenous sports goods manufacturers in mind, the import of raw materials as well as finished sports goods of international quality should be permissible under Open General License. Similarly, Sports Federations/Associations and other recognized Organization involved in Sports Promotion, as also eminent Sports persons, may be extended exemption of customs Duty. The matter relating to exemption from sales Tax for Sports Goods and of free movement of raw materials and finished sports goods in the country would be pursued with the State Governments.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF COACHES, SPORTS SCIENTISTS JUDGES, REFEREES AND UMPIRES
18. The Policy recognizes that the standards of coaching and scientific back up in the country and those pertaining to umpires, judges and referees needs to be upgraded. Concerted steps will be taken to train Coaches, Sports Scientists, Judges, Referees and Umpires, in line with international standards. In addition to developing such expertise on an institutional basis, within the country, the deputation of promising persons to Training Courses, Conferences. Seminars, workshops and Tournaments abroad, so that they remain abreast of relevant developments in their fields, will be encouraged. Coaches would receive rigorous training for up-gradation of skills and may also be deputed overseas for the purpose.
INCENTIVES TO SPORTS PERSONS
19.Incentives provide recognition and financial security to distinguished sports persons, during and after their sporting careers, and also motivate the youth in the serious pursuit of sports activities. Adequate assistance will be extended for Insurance Cover and Medical Treatment in the event of such eventuality/requirement. Job reservation for sportspersons as per the prescribed categories will continue.
Social Recognition, the Conferment of Awards and Honours at the National, State, and District levels, incentives in the form of Cash Awards and Avenues of Employment will be important elements of the National Sports Policy, 2001. Alongside sports persons, suitable incentives will be provided to Coaches, Judges and Referees for developing skills and enriching their experience.
SPORTS AND TOURISM
The Policy recognizes the inter-dependence and inter-relationship between the Sports and Tourism sectors, the integrated development of which is capable of generating very substantial revenues and ensuring a high volume of tourist traffic from within the country and from overseas, while simultaneously promoting a sports & fitness culture in the country. Adventure Sports, in particular, have great potential for the promotion of tourism. Towards this end, the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Union and State Governments, that is those handling Sports, Tourism and related subjects, will strive to draw up joint/unified Plans and Proposals for various parts of the country, with due reference to the possibilities in the North Eastern Region, and to execute these programmes in a systematic and coordinated manner.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION FOR SPORTS
Insufficiency of financial resources has been a major constraint in promoting sports in India. While the Union and State Governments, would need to arrange higher budgetary provisions, special efforts are equally called for to mobilize corporate funds for the development of Sports in the country. Accordingly, corporate Houses would be approached and encouraged to adopt and support particular disciplines (as well as sports persons) in the longer term; for this purpose. Tripartite Agreements between the Government and the concerned Sports Federations and the Corporate Houses may be entered into for different Sports Disciplines. In the context of the Policy of Economic Liberalization, the Private/Corporate sectors would be more closely involved with the promotion of Sports, in general, and to build and maintain Sports infrastructure, in particular, with requisite emphasis on the latest technologies. A suitable package of incentives may also be evolved for this purpose. Eminent sports persons of established merit will be encouraged to set up and manage Sports Academies.
It may be recalled that a National Sports Development Fund has been created with initial contribution of the Union Government. All contributions (from within and outside the country) to this Fund have been extended 100% exemption from Income Tax. The mobilization of resources for the Fund will be strenuously pursued and the feasibility of exempting the incomes of Sports Federations and Sports persons (from sources other than employers) from payment of Income Tax explored.
The revenues generated by the sale of Broadcasting Television Rights of Sports Events will be shared between the concerned Sports Federation/Association and the Broadcasting/Telecasting agency, public or private, on mutually agreed terms, through appropriate revenue sharing arrangements.
MASS MEDIA
25. The role of Mass Media is central to the popularization of Sports amongst the people at large. The Electronic Media, including the National Broadcasters, the Private Channels and the Print Media would be suitable mobilized for strengthening a Sports Culture in the country.
GLOBALISATION
26. As a resurgent India confidently enters the New Millenium, Sports (and related activities) will be increasingly utilized as a medium for promoting cooperation and friendship in the Region, as also globally. Sports Exchange Programmes will be pursued with all friendly Nations, with emphasis, on the one hand on Advance Training for Sports persons and Coaches, Scientific Support, the latest Research Aids and Development of Infrastructure, and earning laurels for the country, in Sports and Games, on the other.
The National Sports Policy, 2001 would be reviewed, periodically, in order, inter-alia, to incorporate changes/modifications which may be necessitated by technological and other advancements in the field of Sports.
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Sailesh Mishra
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