NSFs,ministry agree talks of d Draft Sport Devolopment Bill- When d govt wants to control, then there is a problem.We should discuss each point-3/5/11

NSFs, ministry agree to engage in talks

Express news service Tags : National Sports Federations, Sports Development Bill, Indian Olympic Association Posted: Tue May 03 2011, 02:10 hrs New Delhi:

In what can be seen as the most positive development so far in an issue that has pitted the National Sports Federations (NSFs) in India against the union Sports Ministry, both sides on Monday agreed that discussions were the only way ahead to ensure the proper implementation of the Draft Sports Development Bill.

While Sports Minister Ajay Maken said he would await feedback from the committee set up to study the feasibility of the Bill, representatives of the NSFs and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) met members of the committee to register their objections. The committee includes Mukul Mudgal, retired chief justice of the High Court of Punjab, Jhanja Tripathi, secretary and executive director Railways Sports Promotion Board, former athlete Ashwini Nachappa and joint secretary in the ministry Injeti Srinivas. Former All-England champion Prakash Padukone, also part of the committee, was unable to attend.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the interim president of the Indian Olympic Association, had made it clear on Sunday after a meeting involving NSF representatives that they would reject the bill “outright.”

However, on Monday, there were signs of a less rigid outlook. “We will decide afterwards. This bill will go to the Parliament. It will take a long time to pass. It is not easy for the government to run sports in India without federations,” he said.

Senior lawyer RK Anand, representing IOA, agreed it would be difficult but said there should be discussions to find a way out. “When the government wants to control, then there is a problem. Ideally, we should discuss each and every point and then we should bring the bill. Ultimately every party has to agree,” he said after meeting the committee members.

The NSFs are opposed to the age limit of 70 for office bearers and reservation of 25 per cent membership and voting rights for sportspersons. Incidentally, the Sports Ministry had earlier released a statement stating that up to 24 federations had accepted the sports bill, but Malhotra said the consent had been given under pressure.

In a statement, Maken questioned how a legislation aimed at bringing about transparency in election procedures through secret ballot and pre-determined declared electoral colleges could in any way result in interference.

“It could not be comprehended as to how the NSFs being brought under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act as Public Authorities and ensuring their accountability to people of the country and sports lovers, would amount to interference in their functioning. Seeking to prohibit nepotism by putting age and tenure norms, which are in total conformity to best practices followed and recommended by the top International Sports Federation, IOC would only add to the NSFs acceptance and credibility, rather than undermine their autonomy,” the statement said.

Nachappa, however, said all issues were open for discussion. “This is not the final bill. If it was so rigid then no stakeholder should have been asked to come and discuss. The motive is to discuss and bring improvements in the bill. There will be people who will be objecting, especially who are running the federations from the last 40 years, but I believe if there are any positive changes in Indian sports we should look for it.”