AICS holds 5th meeting, discusses various issues

The fifth meeting of All India Council of Sports was held here today at the Sports Authority of India office in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium under the chairmanship of AICS President (Rank-Minister of State), Vijay Kumar Malhotra.
Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, IPS, Director (Sports), Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and officiating member Secretary All India Council of Sports welcomed the members and special invitees.
Malhotra welcomed all the members and special invitees.
Presiding over the meeting, which was attended by eminent Sportspersons, sports administrators, senior officers of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI, Malhotra informed that as per the newspaper reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved extension of CGHS facilities to sportspersons and advised the Health Minister to formulate the scheme in consultation with the Sports Ministry.

Malhotra mentioned that he would once again take up the issue with PMO.
Members present expressed their happiness and requested the AICS President to convey their thanks to the Prime Minister.

Malhotra further thanked Arun Jaitley, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs for agreeing to amend the Indian Companies Act 2013 so as to allow utilisation of CSR Funds for creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure etc.
It was further clarified by the Corporate Affairs Ministry that Private nd Public Sector Undertakings may sponsor national and international sports events and book the expenditure under the head 'Advertisement' as their regular business expenses.

Discussing on the Concept Plant submitted to Prime Minister to launch "Pradhan Mantri Khel Vikas Yojna" by setting up "One Million Sports Clubs" throughout the country, members stressed to impress upon the concerned ministries for amendments to the guidelines covering MPLAD fund, MLA LAD fund, MGNAREGA fund and funds available under Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Sanitation and Drinking Water Ministries.
Secretary (Sports), MYAS informed that MPLAD scheme already has many provision and schemes where funds could be used for sports development and there is a need to aware the sporting fraternity viz IOA and National Sports Federations by circulating these provisions and schemes to them.

Malhotra further informed that Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension for agreeing to incorporate the recommendations of AICS to amend the guidelines regarding reservation of jobs for sportspersons so as to read 'Minimum 5 per cent' instead of 'Upto 5 per cent'.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is expected to provide the inputs as requested by DoPT.
Members also demanded uniformity in cash award to sportspersons by various state governments and revision of pension scheme.
It was decided to once again recommend a robust pension scheme for meritorious sports persons so that they can lead a respectful life after retiring from active sport.

A prolonged discussion took place on the newspaper reports regarding India being ranked third in the world in Dope Violation and the members express their concern over the increasing numbers of doping cases in the country.
Members felt that awareness programmes as well as accreditation of food supplements must be taken up in addition to making doping as punishable crime.