It’s long overdue but better late than never: A slew of decisions recently taken by the Sports Ministry aim to make it more accessible to sportsmen and help them cut through red tape. Most significant — and the one likely to draw most flak — is the approval of direct funding, bypassing the federations.The plan, cleared by Sports Minister Sunil Dutt, allows ‘champion athletes’ to directly approach the ministry for funds to train abroad or even engage a personal coach, as the case may be.The decision, while welcomed by athletes, is bound to upset the national federations as they will have little say in the matter. In fact, the decision was prompted by the ‘‘preferences and prejudices’’ shown by some federations when it came to clearing athletes’ funding.The procedure so far was that an athlete had to route a request to the ministry through the federation; it effectively left the athlete at the mercy of the federation.The new rule already has a beneficiary: Joshna Chinappa, the world junior squash champion. Ministry sources said she had some time ago approached the ministry for funds to engage a personal coach and train abroad. The ministry, as a matter of routine, asked the Squash Racquets Federation of India for its opinion.The SRFI did not recommend Joshna’s case, the minister overruled the federation and cleared Joshna’s proposal. ‘‘There are a few more cases that came to our knowledge and we had to act one way or the other. If we had gone by the earlier procedure, it would have affected the athlete concerned,’’ said the official.OTHER PROPOSALS• A blanket ban on managers accompanying teams abroad, to end the practice of federation officials going as managers. Sources say there were many discrepancies on this issue, including those travelling at no cost to government• Teams to be cleared for tournaments abroad only if government observer is part of selection process. Compulsory for observer to be present and for federation to notify him/her before selection meetings. Observers who skip meetings will be replaced• Audit by CAG of all federations where ministry funding touches Rs 1-crore mark. This comes in the face of federations’ objections and will be mandatory from this financial year• More sportspersons brought under pension scheme. From 50 to 169, and even serving players are eligible
