Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu stated yesterday that a regulation to identify operations is being put together as a step to strengthen the operations of sports associations.
While speaking at a press conference at the President's Office regarding the ministry's plans for the year and work that has been completed, Minister Rafiu said that they are taking steps to strengthen the operational prowess of the associations.
As per the minister, they are currently preparing a regulation to assess the operations of sports associations.
"For the ongoing betterment of sports association operations, we have completed a fair bit of work on a number of Key Performance Indicators (KPI)," said the minister.
"We hope to finish establishing this line of work very soon. We need to come up with a way to assess the operational quality of sports associations."
The minister went on to say that financial management training sessions were held for those in financial transaction positions at associations. He also said that solutions have been found for the implementation of regular association audits.
According to the minister, an arrangement has been made with the Olympic Committee where they are to hire an audit firm so that sports associations that do not have the capability to audit themselves can be audited.
Another step being taken to strengthen the administrative operations of associations is an increment in the salary of General Secretary's.
Currently, General Secretaries are receiving MVR 15,000, with the increment seeing a salary of MVR 20,000.
As per Rafiu, General Secretaries work full time in running the associations.
The minister sees it as important to facilitate longer working hours in such a position. He also said that budget support arrangements have been made to offer an opportunity for the on-boarding of two additional employees to work under General Secretaries.
"One of the most important things we have done to strengthen the operations of associations is the salary increment of General Secretaries, make it so that they can work full time at the associations and the facilitation for internal arrangements via the budget in the hiring of administrative staff at associations who will oversee documentation," said Rafiu.
