Herald: Do you feel that the sports associations are doing enough for the development of sports in the State?
Ramesh Tawadkar: Only 50% of the sports associations are performing, while the others need streamlining. We already held several meetings in that direction. As I have already said, we are on the drive to streamline organizations not to develop only one but 46 different sports disciplines. But let me point out here, I am absolutely not satisfied with the performances of several sports clubs in the State.
Herald: What do you feel are the problems faced by sportspersons in Goa?
Ramesh Tawadkar: We are offering a lot for anyone who is interested to take up sports and excel. It is however, up to sportsmen to reap benefits by utilizing the facilities. Due to earlier government plans without any vision, there were problems in accommodating sportspersons in government jobs. But now we have sports quotas for government jobs, besides other benefits which government offers sportspersons.
Herald: What have you done for sports from the time you took over as sports minister?
Ramesh Tawadkar: The first task we did was declare football as the State game and formed the Football Development Council. This no one had even dreamt of in the past. The successful organization of Lusofonia Games by setting up Rs 270 crore worth infrastructure in a record is the achievement which the previous government could not even dream of doing in such a short span of time. Next the Youth Policy; conceived and unveiled is my achievement. Reviving of awards, which were kept in cold storage by previous government, such as revival of Jivbha Dada Kerkar Award, the sports highest state award, set the ball rolling, in a bid to streamline organizations in not just one but 46 sports events/disciplines.
And as of now we are getting set to hold National Games in the State.
We are gearing up to get 8 to 10 either new or refurbished stadia for the Games.
