New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The sports ministry Tuesday doubled the cash award for medal winners at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

A gold medallist will now get Rs.20 lakh while silver medallists will be awarded Rs.10 lakh. The bronze medal winners will take home Rs.6 lakh.

Sports minister M.S. Gill made this announcement at the Conference of State Ministers for Youth Affairs and Sports held here Tuesday.

Gill appreciated the efforts made by states in the implementation of Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).

The State Sports Ministers unanimously resolved that there was an urgent need for enacting a National Sports Act for promoting good governance practices in the National Sports Federations (NSF), including professional management, financial accountability and good electoral practices.

They also recommended the setting up of a National Sports Dispute Redressal Tribunal to ensure speedy resolution of sports disputes, including player’s grievances. It was noted that a large number of countries have sports legislation in place to regulate the activities of sports federations and facilitate proper sports development.

The Minister appreciated the innovative work done by the Madhya Pradesh government in setting up several professionally managed sports academies for which they have been awarded Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar for 2010.

He announced that from now onwards one award will be earmarked for the best performing state in sports development.

Gill also said that efforts are on to add over one lakh rural youth clubs to the present number of three lakh.

He announced that a National Youth Festival will be held at Udaipur form Jan 12-16 and the ministry will provide a grant of Rs 2 crore to Rajasthan for the conduct of youth festival.