Saturday 25 August 2012

National Sports Development Bill 2011

The Bill is aimed at bringing more accountability and transparency in the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs) and improving the sports culture and administration in the country.

Provisions of the National Sports Development Bill



  1. The Bill has been formulated to celebrate the spirit of sport and fair play, imbibed the philosophy of Olympism.
  2. Essential conditions to be fulfilled by the National Sports Federations (NSF)
    • retirement age for members as 70 years, 
    • inclusion of athletes in the decision making process, 
    • ensure that 25% of the membership and voting powers is held by athletes
    • the Union Minister of Sports shall not be eligible to contest for post in NOC or NSF  and 
    • restriction on the term of Office Bearers to two terms of four years each and 
    • restrictions of concurrent holding of positions by Office Bearers in NSFs 
  3. The NSFs will be under the purview of RTI
  4. The Indian Olympic Association has been made responsible for the conduct of the National Games every 2 years. 
  5. The IOA has been obligated to hold fair and transparent election every 4 years; maintain public accountability, resolve disputes through a proper mechanisms.
  6. NSFs have been obligated to submit to the Government their audited accounts, measures taken to combat sexual harassment, doping, age fraud, participation of minorities and disabled. An important obligation has also been imposed to promote excellence in sports through the participation of Elite Athletes, 
  7. Bill gives efficacy to the National Sports Development Code of 2011 by stating that it has been notified under this Bill.

Debate about the Bill
    The BCCI said certain aspects of the Bill seek to destroy the autonomy of the Board and dilute the rights of its members. The Bill wants to give the BCCI the status of a National Sports Federation and therefore bring it under the purview of the RTI Act.The BCCI further said that It has to be borne in mind that sport is a state subject and the legislative competence of the Central government is limited. The Bill tends to encroach upon the fundamental rights of sports bodies
    Bowing to the BCCI’s objections, the Sports Ministry today decided to exempt cricketers from some World Anti-Doping Agency rules, including the contentious ’whereabouts clause’, in the revised National Sports Development Bill.
    The Indian Olympic Association has also termed the Bill a 'cruel joke' intended to curtail the autonomy of sports federations.
    However, sportspersons and concerned citizens and organisations have expressed support for the Bill.

      Sources: 
    http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=70001
    http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2409770.ece
    http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2581479.ece
    http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article2623615.ece
    http://www.thehindu.com/sport/article2545543.ece

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