Bengal Cabinet gives nod to the New Sports Policy 2015

Kolkata: The West Bengal Cabinet on Tuesday passed the New Sports Policy-2015 for overall development of sports infrastructure and welfare of sports persons in the state. Youth Welfare Minister Aroop Biswas, who also looks after Sports, told reporters that the policy would help improve existing sports infrastructure and install the latest state-of-the-art sports infrastructure in the state.

The policy would also provide cash incentives, awards and employment opportunities to outstanding sports persons, Biswas said adding it would also strengthen infrastructure in educational institutions including universities.

"The New Sports Policy will create a culture of sports by imbibing higher moral and ethical values and spirit of sportsmanship raising the level of desire to excel among the youth of the state," the minister said.

Provision has been made in the policy to encourage adventure sports in the state. Steps were there to bring about transparency in the working of the State Sports Associations, he said.

A policy like this was a long-felt need to encourage involvement of private and corporate entities in the development of sports infrastructure, training and conduct of sports competitions leading to broadbasing of sports in the state, the minister said.

Finally, the policy would recognise talent in sports and reward young women and men, who achieve excellence in sports, he added. For this, the minister said, steps had been taken to reconstitute District Sports Councils and the Sub-divisional Sports Councils with a wider participation of sports bodies.

He also said that the state government would set up a State Sports Institute to enable the sports persons to undergo certificate and diploma courses in different areas related to sports. To promote excellence in international and national competitions, the sports department would set up residential academies in different disciplines like Table Tennis, Archery, Badminton, Volley Ball, Athletics, Gymnastics and Swimming immediately. "We have already set up a residential Football academy in the state," Biswas said.

The minister further said that the state government would financially support individual sportspersons from the state who qualify for the Olympic, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Cup and similar level of continental competitions to the extent it remained uncovered from any other source. The sports department would also create a data bank for sportspersons in the state, he said adding each sub-division would have a stadium.