Students good in sports may get grace marks under new policy

Grace marks for students who excel in sports and provision to let sportspersons continue with sports as a career after they retire from competitive events, could be part of the state’s sports policy.

The state government will take a final decision on these issues and others once its sports policy is ready, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Empowerment Pramod Madhwaraj said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Madhwaraj said the policy would be ready by October this year. The department is holding meetings of various stakeholders including sportspersons, sports federations and associations at Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, Mysuru and Udupi in September to get their views. Sports policies of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, besides a draft policy prepared by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, will also be studied before finalising the state’s policy, he said.

On improving sports infrastructure in schools, the minister said a notification had been issued in 2002 making it mandatory for all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to earmark 2% of their total allocation for sports (It is 1% in panchayat institutions). “However, the notification has not been followed till date. We will take steps to ensure it is followed henceforth,” he said.

The department will also put in place a policy for charging a uniform fee for using facilities in stadia.

Exhibitions or non-sports events will not be allowed in stadia with synthetic tracks, he added.

Kirmani to head panel
Madhwaraj said he had done away with the previous system of the sports minister chairing committees for selecting candidates for various state sports awards. Prominent sportspersons will now head the committees. Former cricketer Syed Kirmani will head the committee to select candidates for Ekalayva Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award. Even members on the selection panel will be sportspersons.