New Delhi, July 24 (IANS): The Indian government on Friday formed an 'All India Council of Sports', an advisory body for the ministry of youth affairs and sports.
"The Govt. of India has constituted 'All India Council of Sports’. The council will be an advisory body for the ministry of youth affairs and sports. While the advice rendered by the council will be duly considered by the government, it will not be binding and obligatory on the government. The council may organise national, international conferences, seminars, symposia etc, for promotion of sports and games in the country," an official release said.
The council will be headed by a president in the rank of minister of state and will include four members of parliament, sports personalities, coaches, sports experts, sports administrators, Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general, National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) director general, officials from the sports ministry, representatives from national sports federations, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), corporate bodies and NGOs.
"Appointments of the president and members of the council other than ex-officio members shall be made by the government, the statement added.
The council will meet from time to time, at least once in a quarter, and deliberate on matters relating to the promotion and development of sports and games in the country.
The council will have the aims and objectives of popularising sports amongst the youth as a way of life, increasing outreach of sports to rural and tribal areas, areas affected by left wing extremism, North East and Jammu & Kashmir, implementation of policies for promotion of sports and games in the country, matters relating to promotion of inclusiveness in sports with special focus on women, differently-abled, tribals etc, preventing drug abuse in sports, fraud in age and sexual harassment of women in sports, among others.
It will also try to bring professionalism, transparency and good governance in the functioning of national sports federations. It will deal with issues arising out of match fixing and other malpractices in competitive sports.