Dr. Gill takes over as Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports

Dr. Gill takes over as Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. M.S. Gill has taken over as Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, here today. He was also Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports in the previous Union Government. Immediately after taking over as Sports Minister, Dr. Gill said “ During last one year several initiatives have been taken and will continue to do the work with same excitement.” Regarding preparations of Commonwealth Games, the Minister said” Whatever bottlenecks were there in construction of stadia by Sports Authority of India ( SAI) , those have been removed and am confident that all timelines will be met. The systems are in place , coordination committee meets regularly and discuss and takes all decisions unanimously.” Speaking about his other priorities, Dr Gill said “ there is great potential in the Youth Programmes like Nehru Yuvak Kendra and National Social Service Scheme and he intend to expand it further on larger scale.” Regarding appalling financial conditions of sportspersons, Dr Gill said that although he had doubled the pension of them last year but will try to push it for enhancing further to a decent level . Earlier on his arrival at the Ministry in the Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Gill was received by the senior officials of the Ministry. Later, the Secretary, Youth Affairs, Sports Secretary and senior officers called on him and discussed important issues relating to the Ministry. During his tenure as Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports from 6th April, 2008 to the 15th May, 2009, Dr. Gill undertook special drive for the expeditious construction of Commonwealth Games Stadia, which were delayed initially. The Stadia will now be completed by 31st March this year except Games Village and Cycling velodrome. These two venues are targeted for completion by 31st March, 2010. After careful scrutiny in the Sports Ministry and appraisal in the Finance Ministry (EFC), the Minister obtained approval of Cabinet on 8th May 2009, the revised estimate of the five SAI stadia from Rs. 1000 crore to Rs. 2460 crore. In addition to the above, Pension to the Medal Winners sports persons was doubled, financial assistance for sports persons for the medical treatment enhanced 2 to 4 times, new National Rural Sports Programme launched, Policy for representing India in International Sports / Games by Indian Passport holders only implemented and National Anti-Doping Agency reconstituted. Born on 14th June, 1936, Dr. Gill was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in 2004. Before this, he served as an Election Commissioner from 1995 to 1996 and later on as Chief Election Commissioner from December, 1996 to June, 2001. Dr. Gill, a former IAS Officer, has held the post of Secretary in the Ministries of Agriculture, Petrochemicals and Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals at the Centre. A recipient of Padma Vibhushan, has authored a book “An Indian Success Story: Agriculture and Cooperation in Punjab” and served on a World Bank project on agriculture and infrastructure in Nigeria between 1981 and 1984.