Fixing tenures good way to improve NSFs working: Srinivas

"The Ministry had studied the functioning of few top nations and realised that this was a good way to improve the working," Srinivas told reporters here last night.

In its bid to crack down on NSF heads who have been occupying the posts for extended periods of time, the Sports Ministry had recently issued a statement in which it stated that the NSF chiefs in office for more than a decade will have to step down after their current term expires.

The Ministry had modified a 1975 regulation according to which Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi and several NSF chiefs including V K Malhotra (archery), Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (cycling), VK Verma (badminton), captain Satish K Sharma (aero club) and BS Adityan (volleyball) cannot seek a re-election after their present term expires.

Srinivas said that the Centre cannot prepare a uniform sports policy for all the states as "every state has a right to formulate its own sports policy."

"Sports is a state subject matter and we cannot have a centralised policy," he said.
Srinivas cited the examples of Punjab and Haryana, saying they can focus on hockey, boxing or wrestling while many states may go for water sports.

Srinivas was here to attend the convocation ceremony at the National Institute of Sports (NIS).

Asked about the preparations regarding the upcoming Commonwealth Games, he said that all the construction work would be completed by June 30.

"India's chances in the Games are very bright. The players have worked really hard. As far as the preparations are concerned they are complete," he said.