New Delhi: Saying India has potential of producing 100 Usain Bolts, Rajyavardhan Rathore announced extensive sports policy here on Tuesday. The Union Sports Minister shared details of an extensive sports policy under Kehlo India programme, to bring about sea of changes in India’s sports culture.

Rathore while attending the MP government's sports award function in Bhopal, discussed sweeping changes in sports policy of the country including the national school games that is going to start from Jan 31 to Feb 8, which will give a platform to raw young sporting talents.

“Top 1,000 athletes chosen out of this event would be given Rs five lakh scholarships for eight years,” said Rathore, former trainee of Army Marksmanship Unit Mhow, claiming they would keep adding 1,000 more athletes every year. An allocation of Rs 250 crore has been made for the purpose which aims at addressing sponsorship woes for sportspersons.

“The GoI wishes to hold talent hunt camps nationally for the kids in the age group of 8-14 years,” he said. Saying that coaches whose wards make it big, have earned laurels till now, so a provision has been made so that the amount given to the coaches of national athletes is shared by 20% by the grass root coach, and 30% of it would go to the developmental coaches at academies.

An App would be developed for keeping the database of all the coaches in the country which also would ensue remunerations according to their potential," said the minister. He proposed another App which offers information of nearest playground anywhere in India so that the parents don’t have problems while seeking sports facilities for their kids.

Saying that the Centre was pondering over fixation of sports quota in government departments, he urged CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to do the same in MP. “Till now upto 5% sports quota provision is there but employers hardly publicise these posts and let them lapse which won’t be the case now on.”

He further elaborated upon the 'Khelo India' programme, saying earlier policies set aside budget for spots infrastructure and no one knew how to use it afterwards, but now the policy would invest in sporting talents.

"The Centre would partner with volunteer organisations, state government institutions and others whichever establishes centres of excellence for sports for training athletes. “Necessary attention would be given to training of coaches as well and athletes would be helped with national and international training by the Centre, said the former Army officer.

"In accordance with the intentions of PM Narendra Modi of empowering youths, this 'Khelo India' programme has been chalked out and I have no doubts why a country of 125 crore people can’t produce 100 Usain Bolts."

He also talked about reformative measures for Sports Authority of India, saying we plan a leaner sports body for efficient functioning and would cut down its size to 50% by 2022-23. The minister also backed coaches’ role in policy making of departments claiming a deserving coach each would be promoted till Joint Secretary level in departments.