 "Punjab becomes the first state in the country to implement the ‘Punjab State (Development and Promotion of Sports) Act 2024’: Chief Minister")
In a major initiative aimed at promoting sports in Punjab, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has approved the implementation of the ‘Punjab State (Development and Promotion of Sports) Act, 2024’. With this, Punjab has become the first state in the country to implement this act.
Presiding over a meeting of the Sports Department here, the Chief Minister said that the main objective of this Act is to adopt good practices adopted at the national and international level for the development of sports in the state and ensure fair selection of sportspersons. He said that this act will play an important role in creating a legal framework to bring transparency in the functioning of sports associations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this will also ensure fair selection of those players who will represent the country at the district level of their region or their state at the national level and at the international level.
The Chief Minister said that this act will also help in ensuring proper utilization of government funds by sports associations. He said that under this act, a district association will be registered for a particular sport in each district. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that according to this act, accounts will be mandatorily maintained by chartered accountants and annual statement of all expenditure and sources of income will be published before 31st May.
The Chief Minister said that the documents and accounts will be made available in electronic format to the Director of Sports, Government of Punjab. He said that a five-member committee will be formed, which will include the general secretary, two senior coaches and two prominent players. This committee will select the teams/players to represent the district or state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the dispute resolution committee formed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner/Managing Secretary will resolve the appeal of the players within 7 days.
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The Chief Minister said that the District Magistrate will inform a five-member sexual harassment committee at the district level, which will include three women and two men members of the executive committees of sports associations. He said that the administrative secretary of the sports department will inform the five-member committee at the state level, which will include members of the executive committees of the state sports associations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these committees can take notice themselves in case of any incident.
The Chief Minister said that as per the Act, all associations shall prepare an annual calendar for organizing sports activities such as camps, leagues and competitions and upload it on their website by March 31 every year. He said that the sports department will finalize the calendar in 30 days. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed the hope that this policy will give a big boost to sports and sports activities in the state, so that the immense energy of the youth can be directed in a positive direction.