Chandigarh, December 9:
In a major move aimed at giving fillip to sports in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday gave nod to enact THE PUNJAB STATE (DEVELOPMENT & PROMOTION OF SPORTS) ACT, 2024, thereby becoming first state in country to do so.
Presiding over a meeting of Sports department, the Chief Minister said that the main aim of the act is to adopt National and International good
practices for development of Sports in the State and to ensure fair selection of players. He said that it will also go a long way to create a legal framework for transparency in working of Sports Associations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will also ensure fair selection of players who represent
their Districts at state level or State at National Level and above.
The Chief Minister said that it will also help in proper utilisation of the Government funds by Sports Associations. He said that as per the Act, One District Association in every district for a particular game, will be registered. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that act also stipulates that Maintenance of Accounts by a Chartered Accountant will be mandatory and Annual statement of all expenditure and sources of income shall be published before May 31.
The Chief Minister said that Documents and accounts in electronic format shall be made available to Director Sports, Government of Punjab. He said that a five members committee consisting of General
Secretary, two Senior Coaches and two Eminent players shall select the team/ players to represent District or State as the case may be. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a Dispute Resolution Committee under the
Deputy Commissioner/ Administrative Secretary shall dispose off the appeal of the players within seven days.
The Chief Minister said that a five Member Sexual Harassment Committee at District Level will be notified by District Magistrate, out of members of Executive Committees of all Sports Associations with three female and two male members. He said that at State Level, five member committee will be notified by Administrative Secretary of the Sports
Department out of the members of the Executive Committees of State Sports Associations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that committees may take, suo-moto notice, of any such incidents.
The Chief Minister said that as per Act
all the associations shall draw up calendar of sports activities such as camps, leagues and competitions and same shall uploaded on their
website by March 31 every year. He said that Department of Sports will finalise the calendar within 30 days. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that this policy will give a major push to sports and sporting activity in the state thereby channelling the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction.
