Ranchi: State sports minister Amar Kumar Bauri has called a meeting on January 24 at Birsa Munda Football Stadium to garner suggestions and recommendations to finalise Jharkhand Sports Policy 2017.

The move comes at a time the sports department mandarins are trying to speed up the drafting of a new policy that would be in sync with time.

The state had first come up with a similar policy in 2007, which some members of the sports fraternity claimed, mostly remained defunct.

Sports director Ranendra Kumar told The Telegraph on Saturday that the Ranchi meeting would be followed by a similar meet in Dumka on January 30.

"Last year, we held a few meetings at commissionerate levels. But now, we are trying to speed up the process so that we can finalise the policy," he said, adding that they have sent out invitations to people associated with the sports fraternity in Gumla, Khunti, Simdega and Lohardaga to attend Wednesday's meet.

Kumar said the new policy would explore ways to make sports a way of life and create centres of excellences among other things.

"We are planning to set up open gyms in all districts as part of our plan to promote physical fitness and sports. When we talk of excellence in sports, there is a need to have a pyramid structured development. At the bottom, there is a need to strengthen residential centres, above that are day boarding centres that too require an upgrade besides the creation of more holistic sports venue in districts. At the state level, we need game-specific academies and a varsity, which is in the offing."

He said the policy would also focus on capacity building of coaches, diet, remunerations and training modules.

"Non-sporting aspects will include jobs and other facilities for medal winners. For example, we plan to offer land (both for agriculture and for residential purposes) to players and coaches besides cash awards. All these aspects will be covered by the policy," Kumar said.

A senior official of Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) welcomed the move but claimed snail-paced activities of the department had always been a big deterrent to sports promotion in the state.

"In 2014, the department had formed a job policy for players but only three could be given jobs in three years. We had protested against the policy as it only offered jobs to Olympians and Asian medallists. How many players represent Jharkhand at such games?" he said.

Another senior functionary of JOA and president of Jharkhand Athletics Association, Madhu Kant Pathak, said the sports department should give a rough draft to all associations to get better suggestions.

"Ideally, associations should be given a rough draft a month in advance so that they can read it and give proper recommendations," he said.