The Indian government "aims to cut the staff" of the Sports Authority of India "by half to ensure professionalism and bring in more accountability," Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, according to Gaurav Laghate of the ECONOMIC TIMES. Rathore said, "We are going to cut strength of SAI by 50% by 2022. We don't need so many people. Remaining people will be ably supported by professionals. All the sports bodies -- SAI, National Sports Federations -- have to step up in terms of delivery." He tweeted last month that the word "authority" has "no place in sports today." The minister added that sports in India will no longer suffer from "red-tape" delays. Rathore: "Sports can't be run by bureaucrats. Indian sports has suffered enough, but not anymore." He said that "implementation of the much-delayed Sports Code is also on his priority list." On facilities, Rathore said, "Our motto is to give them 'sammaan' (respect) and 'suvidha' (convenience). These are the critical first steps. Players who are bringing the country pride cannot be treated as second class citizens. So the whole system has to be redesigned with players at the center" (ECONOMIC TIMES, 11/6).
