Ministry open for feedback on sports policy: Sports secretary

New Delhi, Aug 8 (UNI) The Sport Ministry has invited all the stake holders of the game later this month to discuss the draft of the new sports policy.

''The Sport Ministry has called the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the national sports federations, state associations and prominent sport personalities to give their useful insights,'' Union Sports secretary S K Arora said here yesterday.

The Sports secretary a said the first meeting between the ministry and the bodies conecerned would take place on August 17, which would be followed by two other meetings on August 22 and August 28.

In this meetings, the ministry would ask for feedback from the IOA and other bodies on the new sports policy draft that has been posted on the it's website www.yas.nic.

Last month the ministry came up with a draft policy to consult all the stake holders of the game to discuss the Comprehensive National Sports Policy 2007 for a holistic development of the game in the country.

But even before the new policy was formalised, an altercation erupted between Sports Minister Mani Shanker Aiyer and IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, who claimed that the ministry intends to ignore the IOA before finalising the policy.

However, the sports secretary clarified Kalmadi's claim and said, ''It is not that the ministry never wanted IOA and other sports association to be a part of the draft proposal.'' ''Its just a draft, we are open to comments from different stake holders of the game, it is not a new thing, it has happened in the past. Its upthere on the ministry's website (www.yas.nic.in) for feedbacks,'' Arora added.

According to Arora, the policy will have a holistic approach and will not hinder holding any big ticket event in the country.

''The sports policy speaks on the issue in a plan way so that development can be done properly. England did it by hosting the events at Birmingham, Manchester and now 2012 London Olympics.

''It will also be the same for India,'' he said.

When asked if the poroposed policy in anyway would hinder the autonomy of various associations, Arora said, ''If the media can said to be fully autonomous, they also have to abide by some guidlines. Its not that we (ministry) is taking away the autonomy but rather we are laying down guidlines.'' UNI