(a) whether the Government has constituted All India Council of
Sports (AICS), if so, the details thereof along with the salient
features and functions of the Council; and
(b) the manner in which it will be able to develop the sports in the
country and the time by which the Council is likely to start
functioning?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Government of India has constituted All
India Council of Sports (AICS) headed by Prof V.K. Malhotra as its
President in the rank of Minister of State. Its members include
eminent sportspersons and coaches like Shri Sachin Tendulkar,
Smt. P.T. Usha, Shri Limba Ram, Ms. N. Kunjarani Devi, Shri I.M.
Vijayan, Shri P. Gopichand, Shri Baichung Bhutia and Shri
Vishwanathan Anand. The salient aims & objectives of the Council
are as follows:
? popularising sports amongst youth as a way of life;
? increasing outreach of sports to rural and tribal areas, and
areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), North East and
Jammu & Kashmir;
? matters relating to promotion of inclusiveness in sports with
special focus on women, differently-abled, tribals, etc.;
? preventing drug abuse in sports, fraud of age and sexual
harassment of women in sports;
? early identification of sports talent and nurturing of the
identified talent; and
? integration of sports in educational curriculum in schools,
colleges and universities.
The Council may meet from time to time, at least once in a
quarter, and deliberate on matters relating to the promotion and
development of sports and games in the country.
It is up to the President of the Council to call its meetings.
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