Bangalore: Sports Minister M S Gill today said he was "struggling" to get things going as too many rules "complicated" recruitment and promotion policies or sport coaches.

Asked if coaches and sports medicine staff for Sports Authority of India would be appointed on contract or permanent basis, Gill told reporters here: "It s not a simple thing like that. You know, the elephant that s Government of India, marches in a stately fashion. From Lord Curzon to today".

There are plenty of rules and regulations, he said.

"You don t know how much I had to struggle to promote these 118 people (SAI coaches). Because, there are 100 regulations. That s why unless I push, nothing happens. Last 20 years, nobody promoted".

He said a Patiala-based (SAI) boxing coach by name G S Sandhu, who coached Vijender Singh to Olympic bronze medal in Beijing, has not got promotion all his life.

"What do you expect. It s complex. I have struggled to make some promotions. Tragedy is too many rules in the country. Government of India rules are very complicated".

Gill said SAI had 1,800 coaches 20 years back but now that number has come down to 1300 even though "games have gone up and requirements have gone up".

Indicating that appointing coaches was extremely time-consuming, the Minister said Public Service Commission takes six years to complete the selection process.
Source : PTI