Sports too would get a kick from alcohol in Telangana
Excise minister T. Padma Rao Goud
Hyderabad: Sports too would get a kick from alcohol in Telangana with the government planning to spend two per cent of the revenue earned from liquor to improve sports facilities. Though there was a government order in undivided AP to contribute five per cent of liquor revenue to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) and two per cent to sports, no funds were sanctioned for sports in the last 15 years. CMRF got its share.
The Telangana State government wants to make it mandatory for the excise department to contribute 2 per cent liquor revenue to sports from this year. This would fetch nearly Rs 25 crore per year which the government plans to spend on providing training, pay stipend to poor sportspersons and improve sports infrastructure.
Excise minister T. Padma Rao Goud, who himself holds the portfolio of sports, is keen on the excise department's contribution to sports from this year. "I have taken up the issue with the Chief Minister, who too is in favour of excise department's mandatory contribution to sports from this year. The CM wants the norms in this regard to be implemented strictly. We have drafted fresh guidelines on this and has referred to the CM for approval. This will come into force soon," Mr Goud said.
The minister has plans to extend sports schools to the entire state by using these funds. As of now, there are only three sports schools in Telangana, two in Hyderabad and one in Warangal.
The government plans to set up a sports school in each of the remaining eight districts of the state besides providing sports grounds in all mandal headquarters by utilising these funds.
The government has proposed to double the salaries for sports coaches to provide quality coaching for sportspersons. A new "Telangana Sports Policy" would be unveiled soon by incorporating all these provisions.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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