Uma Bharti hints at restructering SAI

MUMBAI, SEPT 14: The Sports Authority of India SAI is a white elephant', which is draining our already limited resources, said Union M...

MUMBAI, SEPT 14: The Sports Authority of India SAI is a white elephant8217;, which is draining our already limited resources, said Union Minister of State for Youth Welfare and Sports Uma Bharti here on Monday.

In an exclusive chat with The Indian Express, she said the SAI is neither producing the desired standard of players nor showing any encouraging results. The Minister feigned ignorance over the issue of the financial irregularities in the SAI but hinted at major changes in its set up.

8220;While talking to players, many complained about apathetic attitude of SAI authorities, but we have no plans to close down the institution and will restructure the whole thing,8221; she said.

As regards the poor state of Delhi8217;s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, she said that the Government is not getting any revenue from it and can8217;t use it for commercial purposes as per agreement.

Reacting to the statement made by assistant Chief-de-Mission of the 114-member Indian contingent, S M Bali, from Kuala Lumpur, Bharti saidthat every demand made by the Indian contingent was fulfilled and the organisers keep doctors at the place of the event and at the Games Village for the participants. So, to send a doctor to Commonwealth Games is a sheer waste of money, she clarified.

It may be recalled that Bali had issued a statement yesterday that the players participating in the Commonwealth Games are suffering due to unavailability of a team doctor and the Government and SAI officials ignored requests to send a doctor with the contingent.

The Government is soon going to start a Sports Development Fund with an initial amount of Rs 100 crore and also set up Sports Schools in every state of the country. She said the Fund would be generated by industrial houses to promote sports and sportspersons.

Story continues below this ad

One Navodaya Vidyalaya in each state would be converted as a Sports School and would be allotted a particular discipline, the Minister elaborated. Like the Talent Search Schemes, gifted players would be selected for such schools and would beprovided all the facilities.

The Government is also planning to bring foreign coaches to India but the modalities regarding disciplines are yet to be finalised, the Minister said. She said that games like gymnastics and wrestling along with the other Indian games need more attention.