Fernandes proposes Sports Cadre, quota in civil services

Former Sports Minister Oscar Fernandes has submitted a three-point proposal to the Government, demanding the formation of an exclusive Indian Sports Services Cadre.

New Delhi: Former Sports Minister Oscar Fernandes has submitted a three-point proposal to the Government, demanding the formation of an exclusive `Indian Sports Services (ISS) Cadre` and quota for sportspersons in All India Civil Services.

In his draft proposal addressed to the Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken, Fernandes has suggested three steps -- introduction of a sports cadre on the same lines like that of the Indian Forest Services; 5 per cent quota for sportsmen in the IAS, IPS and IFS cadres who have excelled and won medals at the Olympics and appointment of foreign coaches to improve the standard of sports in India on a 50:50 partnership basis between states and central government. "As you are aware that there are about 21 different civil services cadre, but there is no special cadre catering to the Indian sports. The role of the proposed cadre and quota of 5 per cent in civil services is to create professionals with sound knowledge in the field of sports and to make state-of-the-art infrastructure at every state in the country. "It will also help in achieving excellence in various competitive events at the national and international levels and also to get ready to bid for hosting the 2024 Olympics," said Fernandes in his proposal to Maken. The five per cent quota should be equally shared for the benefit of sportspersons who have toiled hard to represent the country in Olympics in the disciplines/competitions recognised by the Government with the preference to be given to the medallists, the draft proposal said. Citing advantages of sportspersons being appointed in the Civil Services posts through quota, Fernandes said, "If the sportsperson is holding the top administrative post (IAS) in the Sports Ministry, he/she will be in a better position to understand the implementation of policies for the development of sports and will have a longer tenure in the post." "A sportsperson in the post of IFS can be posted to sports developed countries to study their system in place and also to give positive feedback for the development of sports in India while a sportsperson in the post of IPS, who is attached to RAW, he/she can be posted to sports developed countries to study the secret training and coaching system in place there," Fernandes, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, said. The proposal said that a maximum of five attempts are to be allowed for sportspersons and the age limit shall be as per the general merit candidates. The main mandate of the ISS cadre will be the implementation of the `National Sports Policy` which envisages scientific management of sports and to exploit them on a sustained basis for primary training. "80 per cent of the cadre strength of the service is to be filled by direct recruitment done through the UPSC by conducting an all India level competitive examination open to graduates with sports background excelling at national and international level in the disciplines recognised by the Government. "After qualifying the written test, the candidates have to appear for a personality test, and physical fitness test and a standard medical fitness test," the proposal said. Few other suggestions have also been made that include posting ISS cadre officers as heads of various departments and division of sports in the states and centre, one officer should be posted in SSCB and other para-military forces and the selected officer from the ISS cadre be posted as CEO in the NSFs and IOA. On the proposal for appointing foreign coaches, Fernandes said, "Keeping 2020 Olympics in mind, it is proposed to develop a scheme to support the appointment of foreign coaches to impart the training at sub-junior/junior level in every state in Olympic disciplines only. The funding for salary of coaches shall be shared on 50:50 basis by the state government/MPLAD scheme and MYAS." PTI