New Delhi: The Bihar Government on Wednesday formed a separate 'sports department' in its cabinet to boost infrastructure and provide support to athletes.

 

Minister of Art, Culture & Youth Jitendra Kumar Rai has been given additional charge of the department. 













At present, the sports wing is part of the art, culture, and youth affairs department.


Earlier on Saturday (January 6), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the state government would soon create a separate ‘sports department.’ He distributed appointment letters to 71 sportspersons of the state, who won medals in national and international events.




“We have decided to create a separate sports department in Bihar to boost infrastructure and support athletes in their endeavour to win medals,” he had said.





“Now, a separate sports department will be created to facilitate talent … and provide them international-level facilities for athletes in the state,” Kumar stated.


He further stated that the Bihar government has decided to promote and encourage sports by giving direct jobs to sportspersons who won medals. The government has decided to provide jobs in administrative and police services to those sportspersons of the state, who will win medals in national and international sporting events.


“The state government has already formulated a policy for providing government jobs to medal winners- ‘medal lao, naukari pao’ (bring medal, get jobs)”, he said.




He added that the administration has already constructed 250 stadiums in all blocks in the state and a sports academy of international level, apart from a cricket stadium and sports universities, was coming up in Rajgir.