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.
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.
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.