No concrete results despite lapse of around 5 years
Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Aug 3: Though, around five years have gone since the preliminary exercise for formulation of J&K Sports Policy has been initiated, yet one observes that Jammu and Kashmir Government’s own Sports Policy is still a dream as there is hardly any concrete work initiated with regard to implementation of the same despite lapse of all these years.
Despite the fact, that the Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari, many a time, has stated that J&K will soon have its own Sports Policy to give further impetus to the sports activities, the Policy is still far away from its implementation in the State.
The statements of the Sports Minister and the Secretary State Sports Council with regard to framing of Sports Policy speak volumes as you hardly need anything more than what has been said by the duo in their statements, but the need is to convert the statements into reality by implementing the Policy in letter and spirit and see sports and the sportspersons flourish in the State.
On the one hand, J&K is sending Sports Advisors to other States/UTs for helping them in sports promotion, and on the other hand, it is taking too much time in framing its own concrete and comprehensive Sports Policy.
Sources said that the previous Sports Policy draft prepared in 2013 had suggested various measures for the upliftment of sports and games and providing necessary facilities to the players so that they could match with the best in the business, adding that after the draft was fully prepared, the autonomous sports body decided to put it in public domain for suggestions to bring any further improvement but that did not happen. The draft was not implemented due to lack of consensus.
Sources further said that the Sports Council is still working on the preparation of new Sports Policy Draft with an aim to address concerns of all stakeholders.
It is learnt that the Council is studying models of the Sports Policy draft of various States to have an exact idea of what should be done to make the draft sportsperson-friendly.
“A survey is also being done wherein the people concerned are talking to players, their parents and to the public to get an exact idea of what is really required to put J&K sports on the world map,” claims Sports Council.
“A Comprehensive Sports Policy can only contribute in the making of a desirable sports structure in the State. Unfortunately, we do find that almost all the agencies including the Department of Education, J&K State Sports Council, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendras and various Sports Associations working in a haphazard manner in their own respective ways but to no avail and ultimate purpose of sports is getting defeated in this way. All these agencies need to be brought under one umbrella if we want to make headway in this direction,” said Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Education on the condition of anonymity.
He said taking both education and sports together would cater to the development of organic, cognitive and conative aspects of human personality, adding that education must very unfailingly encompass the application of physical Education and sports for the development of wholesome personality.
Experts believe that J&K will achieve excellence in sports only when comprehensive Sports Policy is framed.
But the million dollar question is as to how much time is required to the State Government for framing its own Sports Policy.
Sources said, according to the draft, the new Sports Policy is aimed at providing opportunity to all the citizens to participate in sports, develop, maintain and optimally utilize high quality sports infrastructure and channelize youth talent in sports, reward the outstanding sportspersons to appreciate and acknowledge their contribution so that new talent is lured towards the sports activities and categorize sports to ensure focused attention for balanced growth and development of various games.
Categorization of games, awards and incentives for outstanding sportspersons and respect for the Central Government’s Sports Code has always been the ‘mantra’ to blossom in sports for the States which produce international stuff, who keep their flag high at the National and International scene.
However, one fails to understand as to why the Government is hesitant in implementing the Sports Policy despite having done all the hard work in framing draft analogous to the Sports Policies of the States which have a good name and fame in this field at the higher levels.
When contacted, Secretary State Sports Council, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said that it would take around two to three months to implement J&K’s own Sports Policy, adding that the draft already framed needs some changes through experts and they are already on the job.
“The Policy to be implemented needs to be concrete and free from lacunas, that’s why you need expert views on the same. We have already initiated to hire experts in the trade to present a Compressive Sports Policy to the State,” Parra added.
He further said in a bid to ensure participation of all stakeholders in the promotion of sports in J&K, which is lacking adequate infrastructural facilities for its sportspersons, the J&K State Sports Council has prepared an all new Sports Policy draft discarding the previous one which was prepared five years back.
To create a niche in the field of sports and carve a space on the National sports map, the implementation of the Sports Policy is need of the hour.
For that matter, the State Government needs to implement its own Sports Policy at an earliest.
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