ASSOCHAM, an apex industry body, has suggested the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
"The BCCI is not a registered National Sports Federation as it does not take any grants from the government and thus it cannot be brought under the RTI Act, but if the National Draft on Sports Development Bill 2013 is finally passed by the Parliament, then BCCI may not be able to use the word 'India'," said the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, in a communication addressed to Sports Minister Jitendra Singh.
As per the Draft National Sports Development Bill 2013, only those federations who come under the RTI ambit will have the right to use 'India' as the team name.
"The Bill should have its focus on three major aspects viz., encouraging privatisation through public-private partnership (PPP) mode, transforming India as a manufacturing base for sports' equipment and ensuring job security and incentives to sportspersons," said D S Rawat, secretary general of ASSOCHAM.
"Besides, there is also the need for a clear plan highlighting grassroots and international events, athlete development, sports medicine and science which is critical for growth of sports in India," he added.
ASSOCHAM has also stressed that the bill should clearly define the role of Sports Authority of India (SAI) comprising its infrastructure related responsibilities and the roadmap to make those productive.
Though the bill proposes to bring in accountability on part of the National Sports Federations and the National Olympic Committee, ASSOCHAM said that central government has a significant role to play in execution of said statues in the bill.
