Meghalaya Sports Policy to be now drafted by IIM-Shillong: Min

The Meghalaya government has handed over the drafting of the State Sports Policy to the city-based Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management which is expected to be completed in eight months, state Sports and Youth Affairs minister Zenith Sangma told the Assembly today.
"The job to draft the state Sports Policy was handed over to the IIM, Shillong after the State Resource Group (SRG) constituted by the government failed to complete the task within the schedule deadline," the minister said while replying to question raised by Gambegre Independent legislator Saleng A Sangma.
"I am happy that the IIM has agreed to help the government. They (IIM) are expected to complete the job within a period eight months as stated by the director of the institution," he said.

Stating that SRG failed to complete the job within two months, the minister said during its tenure, the resource group had only two sitting on June 9 and July 11 last year.
According to the minister, the SRG was constituted on May 20, 2014 under the chairmanship of Meghalaya State Olympic Association (MSOA) president R G Lyngdoh to come up with a fresh draft of the policy.
"Once the fresh draft policy is ready, it will be circulated to all MLAs for views and suggestion," he said.

"The draft policy will also be uploaded in the official website of the department to allow various stakeholders and general public to express their views," Zenith said.

The minister told the House that the department was also intending to set up a Sports Academy to nurture talents in various disciplines.
"We will like to see our youth take up sports as their career. The setting up of the sports academy will definitely be a step forward to the development of sports in the state," the Sports and Youth Affairs Minister added.