Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said the government was committed to providing financial aid to sports associations to hone budding sportspersons in Bihar and sought cooperation from the associations on transparency.
Bihar is a sports-starved state where most athletes rue lack of infrastructure and training facilities. "If the sports associations are transparent in their functioning, the government is committed to assist them," Nitish said inaugurating the three-day National Sub-Junior Judo Championship at the Paltiputra Sports Complex in Patna. "If the sports associations maintain their balance sheet properly it will develop the government and people's confidence."
Sources said around 30 sports associations in Bihar are recognised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), School Games Federation of India among other associations. Despite the government passing the Bihar Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2013, many sport bodies have refused to abide by the rules and regulations.
"The Bihar Sports Act 2013 mandates sport associations to submit their yearly funds utilisation certificates to the government, hold office-bearer elections every three years," said an official in the youth affairs department. "But many sports associations have people holding office for years and don't follow rules."
A sports association affiliated to the IOA gets financial assistance from Rs 7 to Rs 10 lakh for organising national tournaments. For instance, if the Bihar State Badminton Association organises a national-level tournament, it would get financial assistance from the Badminton Association of India which is part of the IOA.
Inaugurating the judo championship, Nitish said: "Bihar has a very old tradition of martial arts. Buddhist monks invented martial art forms for their self-defence."
The tourney will conclude on October 17 and around 550 judokas (a person who practises judo) aged 10 to 15 years will participate in it. "Teams from 29 states are participating in the tournament," said Bihar State Judo Association secretary Ram Uday Singh. "The biggest feature of the event is the large number of women players." About 300 women judokas have come for the tourney.
The championship has been divided into 24 categories - 12 each for boys and girls. Priyanka, a judoka from Bihar, said: "Such type of events gives us an opportunity to showcase our talents."
On the first day, matches were held in five weight categories.
