In
order to bring about more transparency and objectivity in process for
conferring the National Sports Awards, the Minister for Youth Affairs &
Sports, Shri Jitendra Singh has approved criteria to be kept in view by the
Selection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest
sports award, the Dronacharya Award and the Dhyan chand Award.
It
may be recalled that, the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri
Jitendra Singh had earlier approved similar objective criteria for conferring
Arjuna Awards.
Earlier this month the
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, with the aim of streamlining the
procedure for grant of the National Sports Awards, circulated the Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by various agencies viz. the Ministry
of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India (SAI), National
Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), State Governments, National Sports Federations
(NSFs), and Sports Promotion and Control Boards, in processing the cases
relating to National Sports Awards starting from inviting nominations to
constitution of Selection Committees.
The
salient points of the newly introduced criteria are as follows :-
|
S.N.
|
Criteria
|
Rajiv
Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for most outstanding performance
|
Dronacharya
Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports
|
Dhyan
chand Award for life time achievement in Sports
|
|
1.
|
Weightage
for the medals won in Olympic Games (Summer, Winter and Paralympics), Asian
Games, Commonwealth Games and World Cup / World Championships held once in 4
years.
|
90%
|
90%*
|
70%
|
|
2.
|
Weightage
to the marks given by the Selection Committee for assessment of the eligible
sportsperson / coach keeping in view factors like profile and standard of
sports event in which medal has been won
|
10%
|
10%
|
30%**
|
|
3.
|
No.
of awards to be given normally in a year
|
1
award
|
5
( out of 5, 2 to be given for lifetime contribution in coaching)
|
3
|
*
medals won by sportspersons trained by the coach under consideration for the
award. Marking criteria will not apply for the 2 awards to be given for
lifetime contribution in coaching. Selection committee will give its
recommendations for such two coaches taking into consideration the contribution
made by them over a period of 20 years or more in terms of producing
outstanding sports-persons.
**
includes marks for assessment for contribution made for promotion of sports
after retirement for active Sports career and for qualities like sportsmanship,
leadership, and sense of discipline.
Except
for life-time achievement awards, points for winning medals will be given to
each eligible sportsperson for his/her performance during the last 4 years. Equivalence of any other sports discipline/tournament will
be decided by the Selection Committee and the points will be allotted
accordingly.
For
cricket and indigenous games, not included in Olympic / Asian Games /
Commonwealth Games disciplines, the Selection Committee will take into
consideration the individuals performances / contribution of the
sportspersons/coaches.
In
a particular sports discipline, names of not more than 2 Sportspersons ( 1 male
and 1 female) and names of not more than 2 coaches in case of Dronacharya
award with highest marks as per the criteria stated in the table above will be
considered by the selection committee.
Sometimes,
the Selection Committee may feel that as per the given criteria, a very
deserving sportsperson may not get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Dhyan chand
Award. In such a situation, it may recommend such name giving full
justification in writing.
The
recommendations of Selection Committee will be placed before the Union Minister
of Youth Affairs & Sports for the final decision.
Sports
Journalists/Experts/Commentators have now been included in the Selection
Committees for the sports Awards.
****
AD