Khelo India General Council Meeting Focuses on Draft Sports Policy, Infrastructure Development, and Athlete Welfare

New Delhi: The 4th General Council (GC) meeting of the Khelo India Scheme was held today under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Youth Affairs, Sports, and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. The meeting, held in New Delhi, brought together senior officials from various states, representatives from National Sports Federations, Sports Control Boards, and key stakeholders from Central Ministries.

In a significant announcement, Dr. Mandaviya unveiled a Draft Sports Policy, which has been published on the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ official website for public consultation. This policy aims to modernize and overhaul the current sports framework, keeping pace with the evolving sports ecosystem in India. State and Union Territory governments, along with the general public, are invited to provide their feedback. Once finalized, the policy is expected to serve as a model for states that have yet to develop their own sports policies.

Dr. Mandaviya reviewed the progress of the Khelo India Scheme, with detailed discussions on improving sports infrastructure and facilities aimed at boosting athlete performance. He stressed the importance of adopting a Whole-of-Government Approach, urging coordination among various agencies involved in sports talent identification and development, including Central and State Government schemes, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and National Sports Federations.

Key decisions taken at the meeting included the reconstitution of sub-committees to focus on several important areas:

1. Improving recruitment policies and procedures across ministries and departments to ensure better career progression for sportspersons.
2. Enhancing welfare and support systems for athletes, ensuring they receive the resources and care they need to excel.
3. Developing effective grassroots talent identification programs to nurture the next generation of athletes.

A major highlight was the announcement of a dedicated sports recruitment portal, which will consolidate information on sports quota vacancies across Central Ministries. This portal will be accessible to states as well, enabling them to advertise their own sports-related job openings and ensure greater transparency and accessibility in the recruitment process.

Additionally, the meeting reviewed the progress of the unified sports infrastructure database under PM Gati Shakti, a national infrastructure project. Dr. Mandaviya instructed the collection of data from states, sports federations, and other entities to create a comprehensive inventory of all sports infrastructure in the country.