Govt launches corporate sports policy for CPSEs

New Delhi: Steel minister Birender Singh unveiled corporate sports policy for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) on Monday here.

"A well-defined sports policy will strive to groom a sizeable number of 'Medal Hopes' for Olympics, being held in 2024," a government statement mentioned.

The policy will provide a framework for CPSEs for their sports promotion—which will further discharge this responsibility through infrastructural and institutional support for talent spotting, scholarship, training, coaching, workshop, camp, visit, counselling, special leave, and flexible working, the ministry emphasised.

Steel Minister said that there was a constant effort of forming an apex body with the PSUs to improve performance in sports. The final shape has been given to the policy after a series of meetings. We are in touch with national level coaches for various sports and even with the players. Many of them have been empanelled too.

Singh, who assumed the office after a week on the same day, called sports "the mirror of the economy", where people's effort can make a big difference like the country's GDP. "Not only the physical fitness, sports also enhanced the economic condition. Many have got government jobs and got a good opportunity to showcase their talent. These CPSEs are formed to frame new policies and they are flexible in nature."

He further asserted that the new system aims to provide sportspersons proper logistics support, through a proper set-up like Railways and defence.

An official statement mentioned, "CPSE will constitute a sports committee internal to fulfil the objectives. The Apex Sports Bodies and Unit level Sports Committees will have periodical meetings to review the planned activities and executed programmes to promote the policy."

It will encourage the rural sports, sports for differently abled and activities for homemakers by sponsoring annual and periodic sports.