WITH an aim to promote and develop sports culture in Maharashtra, an International Sports University has been proposed. The Maharashtra cabinet last week approved a draft bill for the constitution of the international sports university and it was passed in the just-concluded Winter Session of the state Legislature. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also Finance Minister of the State, has proposed the Sports University at Shiv Chhatrapati Krida Sankul, Balewadi, Pune. Later, an independent building will be constructed for the university at Pune, Pawar had informed.

 

The proposed International Sports University will be built at a cost of Rs 400 crore. A non-recurring fund of Rs 200 crore and a corpus fund for the university campus of Rs 200 crore has been earmarked. The budgetary allocation has been incorporated in the finance budget for the year 2020-2021. In the first year after establishing the International Sports University, courses in Sports Science, Sports Technology and Sports Coaching and Training will begin. Each course will have a maximum of 50 students. From second year, courses might be increased as per the demand. A proposal to form International Sports University Maharashtra Act 2020 is also being prepared and it will be presented before the State ministers before it will be implemented. It may be mentioned here that Central Government’s National Sports University is at Manipur and Gujarat has Golden Gujarat Sports University. This will be country’s first International Sports University which will help sportspersons from Maharashtra and all over the country improve their performances at national and international competitions. The university will also help generate jobs in sports sector apart from producing best coaches and trainers.

 

This will also help in getting more kids taking up sports and looking sports as career option. The university will have Governing Council, Academic and Activity Council, Board, Board of Studies and other important authorities for Examination and Evaluation. The university will also have faculties in School of Physical Education and Sports Education, School of Sports Management, School of Sports Journalism and Technology, School of Sports Medicine, School of Sports Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Such other schools as may be prescribed by statues. As per initial demands for first five years, 213 posts (166 on regular basis and 47 on contractual basis) have been proposed. This will include post of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, officials for these two posts, education and administrative posts. In the first year, a proposal for 133 posts with 100 on regular basis and 33 on contractual basis, has been made.

 

The institution will bring together faculties of various sports activities and help in research to bring up international level sports-persons, State Sports Minister Sunil Kedar said on Thursday, reported PTI. “The first sports university of Maharashtra will be set up in Pune and start its operations from the academic year 2021-22,” Kedar said. “The Balewadi Sports Complex (in Pune) will be upgraded to the level of a university which will get an initial funding of Rs 400 crore with creation of 213 posts,” the minister added. A committee, headed by Mumbai University’s former vice-chancellor Vijay Khole, was set up and based on its recommendations, the State Government decided to set up the international sports university in Pune, he said. “The Balewadi-based Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, which hosted the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008, will be upgraded to sports university, which will bring trainers and researchers in various sports fields under one roof,” Kedar said. “The university’s faculties and its various researches would cover sports-related science, medicine, technology, coaching and training, sports management and sports media and communication, among others,” the minister said. All facilities will be on par with international standards so that players get quality training and inputs, Kedar said.