Udupi: Minister of State for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment Pramod Madhwaraj said the Youth Empowerment and Sports Department would be given an overall facelift as the draft for the policy will be ready shortly.

Speaking to mediapersons after chairing a state-level meeting comprising the assistant directors, deputy directors and joint directors of the department from across the state, the minister said there is an urgent need for revamping the department, besides upgrading the stadiums and the facilities offered at the sports hostels.

He added that only a few stadiums in the state generate surplus income. However, a majorit of them are in worst condition. The basic infrastructure is pathetic. Cleanliness and hygiene are not maintained in toilets, he stated.

He said the sports policy is pending to be formulated from the past three years. Meetings would be held at five places before the draft copy comes out. The meetings would be held in Udupi, Bengaluru, Belagavi, Dharwad and Kalburgi and the feedback would be collected. The formalities would be over by September 30 and the draft would be ready by October 15.

The minister said the surplus amount collected in Mangaluru district stadium is around Rs 40 lakh and in Udupi, the amount is Rs 10 lakh, which is helpful in maintaining the stadium and the sports hotels.

The other districts which generate profit are Ballari, where Rs 85 lakh surplus amount is generated, Hassan where Rs 20 lakh is collected and Kodagu, where Rs 8 lakh surplus amount is collected, he added.

Citing the example of Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, which is poorly maintained, the minister said the stadium requires Rs 2 crore for maintenance and the funds collected is mere Rs 1 crore. There is an urgent need for the self-sustainability to be ensured for the maintenance of the stadiums.

Asserting that the cleanliness of the toilets is the priority, the minister added that the hygienic conditions should be the prime focus. He said there is a committee for the maintenance of the stadiums headed by the respective deputy commissioners at district-level. The committees at four revenue divisions are headed by the regional commissioners.

Madhwaraj said that food offered at sports hostels lacks nutritious contents which massively affects sports activities and achievements. There is a need to relook into the dietary structure aiding changes resulting is positive development.

He said the plans are being designed at the preliminary stages and would be implemented consequently. He said the other plans is to ensure livelihood security to the sports personalities in the post retirement as the sports life for any individual is short stretching up to 30-32 years.

There should be preferences for the sports personalities in education and employment opportunities. Sport should be the career. He added that corporate social responsibilities should be utilised for the purpose. He said the challenge before the department is to popularise other sports in the midst of the cricket crave among Indians.

The minister said the outsourcing of the sports property should be stopped as the private entities end up making profit without really benefiting the sports property.