Promotion of sports among rural youth - PIB

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Promotion of sports among rural youth

31 DEC 2018

'Sports' is a State subject and promotion of sports in the country, including promotion of Sports among rural youth is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and the National Sports Federations (NSFs) concerned. The Central Government complements/supplements the efforts of the State Governments and the NSFs. Government is already running several schemes to increase participation of the rural youth in sports.

The Khelo India Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provides for promotion of sports among entire population including rural youth. Also, the scheme has a dedicated vertical, viz., Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games which provides for financial assistance to NSFs / Non Government Organizations (NGOs) etc for promotion of sports in the country including rural areas. Under this vertical, various NSFs have been provided financial assistance to hold competitions in various parts of the country including those in rural areas. During the period from January to October 2018, a total number of 36 such competitions / exhibition events had been held.

Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous organization under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, is implementing following sports promotional schemes across the country to identify talented sports persons in the age group of 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at national and international competitions:

• National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)
• Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC)
• SAI Training Centre (STC)
• Special Area Games (SAG)
• Extension Centre of STC/SAG
• Centre of Excellence (COE)
• National Sports Academies (NSA)

Many of the sports persons identified under SAI Sports Promotional Schemes belong to the rural, tribal, backward, coastal and inaccessible hilly areas of the country and are provided with training facilities in the form of expert sports coaches, requisite playing facilities, boarding & lodging, sports kit, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical/insurance and stipend as per the approved norms.

In addition, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), an autonomous organization under aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, undertakes programmes such as Block and District level Sports Meets, providing sports material to Youth Clubs etc., for popularizing and encouraging sports and develop competitive spirit among youth including rural youth. During 2017-18, a total 2965 Block level sports meets and 556 District level sports meets were conducted by NYKS.

The Government does not have any proposal for starting programme in addition to already existing programmes to increase participation of the rural youth in sports.

This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd.) in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

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Revision of Scheme of National Welfare Fund of Sportspersons

Revision of Scheme of National Welfare Fund of Sportspersons

The National Welfare Fund for sports persons was set up in March, 1982 with a view to assisting outstanding sportspersons of yesteryears, who had brought glory to the country in sports, now living in indigent circumstances,. The scheme was last reviewed and revised in July 2009.

Scheme of National Welfare Fund of Sportspersons has been reviewed again and has been revised extensively.

Under the revised Scheme, amount of annual income for being eligible for getting financial assistance from the Fund has been raised from the existing Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh.

Scope of the Scheme has also been expanded to include more sportspersons for being considered for financial assistance from the Fund.

Quantum of assistance from the Fund has also been substantially enhanced.

Under the revised scheme, sportspersons and family members of the sportspersons living in indigent circumstances will be eligible for following amounts of financial assistance:

    (i) Financial assistance may be granted to an outstanding sportsperson now living in indigent circumstances, subject to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakh.

    (ii) Financial assistance subject to a maximum of Rs. 10 lakh may be granted to an outstanding sportsperson for injuries sustained during training for and participation in sports competitions.

    (iii) Financial assistance not exceeding Rs. 5.00 lakh may be provided to the families of deceased outstanding sportspersons living in indigent circumstances.

    (iv) Financial assistance not exceeding Rs. 10 lakh may be provided for medical treatment of an outstanding sportsperson or of any of his/her family members living in indigent circumstances.

    (v) Financial assistance not exceeding Rs. 2 lakh may be provided to coaches and support personnel such as sports doctors, sports psychologists, sports mentors, physiotherapists, masseurs who have been attached with national coaching camps for senior category players and national teams (senior category), and umpires, referees and match officials, who have been associated with recognized national championships (senior category) and international tournaments (senior category) in the sports disciplines included in Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games who are living in indigent circumstances or to family members of such deceased support personnel living in indigent circumstances.

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Government Providing Facilities for sportspersons

Government Providing Facilities for sportspersons

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

11-March, 2015

Facilities for sportspersons

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports provides Special Awards to Medal winners for the medals won in International Sports Events. Medal winners in National Games are not covered in the Ministry’s scheme of Special Awards.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Sonowal said, as Sports is a State subject, the primary responsibility for promotion and development of sports including identification and nurturing of potential talent is that of States. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India, an autonomous body under administrative control of the Ministry, supplement the efforts of the States under the following schemes:

I. Schemes being implemented by the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

(i) “Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan” (RGKA), a centrally sponsored scheme introduced in 2014-15 in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan, aims at construction of Integrated Sports Complexes in all block panchayats of the country in a phased manner and providing access to organized sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels.

(ii) Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, introduced in 2010-11, envisages development of playfields by the State Governments through Playfield Associations, coach development programme through Central and State Governments, creation of infrastructure including laying of artificial turfs for hockey, football and athletics, and construction of multi-purpose hall. Under the Scheme, State Governments, local civic bodies, schools, colleges, universities and sports control boards are eligible for assistance.

(iii) Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for conduct of National Championships at Senior, Junior, Sub-Junior level for men and women, conduct of international tournaments in India, participation of sportspersons in international sports competitions, organizing coaching camps, engagement of foreign coaches, and procurement of sports equipments.

(iv) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for various activities including giving assistance to elite athletes, who are medal prospects for their customized and tailor-made training and competition exposure.

(v) Scheme of Human Resource Development in Sports focusses on developing human resources in sports sciences and sports medicine for the overall development of sports and games in the country. The scheme also provides assistance to coaches and referees / judges to upgrade knowledge / accreditation level and assistance for participation in and conduct of seminars in India, etc.

(vi) Scheme of Special Cash Awards for Winners of medals in international sports events and their coaches.

(vii) Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons after they retire from active sports career with the objective of providing them financial security and incentivizing sporting achievements.

(viii) Scheme of National Sports Awards, viz, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards, Dhyanchand Awards for honouring them for their achievements and contributions as sportspersons and coaches.

(ix) National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons for providing lump sum financial assistance to sportspersons now living in indigent conditions for their medical treatment etc.

(x) Scheme of Sports & Games for Persons with Disabilities for broad-basing of sports among differently-abled sportspersons by way of conduct of training for community coaches, conduct of sports competitions and providing assistance to schools/institutes having differently-abled sportspersons on their rolls for procurement of sports equipments and engagement of coaches on contract basis.

II. Schemes being implemented by Sports Authority of India

(i) National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC): The main objective of the scheme is to identify gifted and talented sportspersons among school children in the age group of 8-14 years.

(ii) Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) is implemented in collaboration with the Army. Children in the age group of 8-16 years are imparted scientific training to achieve excellence at national and international levels. The scheme also provides job opportunities in the Indian Army. Similar arrangements are proposed to be made in Central Para-military forces.

(iii) Special Area Games (SAG): This Scheme follows an area-specific approach to scout and nurture talent for modern competitive games and sports from tribal, rural, coastal and hilly areas of the country. The main objective of the scheme is to train talented and meritorious sportspersons in the age group of 12-18 years.

(iv) SAI Training Centres (STC): Under this scheme, talented youth in the age group of 12-18 years are given the option to join the scheme on residential or non-residential basis.

(v) Centres of Excellence (COE): The main objective of this scheme is to identify and train outstanding sportspersons who are medal prospects for the country in international competitions.

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Promotion of Sports/Games

Promotion of Sports/Games

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

10-March, 2015 16:09 IST

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that present day Indian youth are taking keen interest in outdoor as well as indoor games like Football, Hockey, Basketball, Lawn Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling, Table Tennis and Badminton etc.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Sonowal said, promotion and development of specific sports disciplines is mainly the responsibility of the concerned National Sports Federations (NSFs). Government supplements the efforts of the NSFs by providing financial assistance to the NSFs under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs for various activities such as holding coaching camps for national level sportspersons, zonal and national championships for sub-junior, junior and senior categories, organizing International tournaments in India, training and participation of sportspersons/teams in international tournaments abroad, procurement of sports and sports science equipment and consumables, engagement of foreign coaches/experts to train athletes, etc. as per agreed Long Term Development Plans. During the current financial year, an amount of Rs.185 crore has been allocated under this Scheme. State/UT-wise allocation of funds is not made. Financial assistance given to the NSFs during the last three years and current year is given in Annexure I.

The Minister said, for encouraging youth of the country to take to sports, both for participating in sporting activities and for excelling in sporting competitions in National and International tournaments, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Sports Authority of India (SAI) are implementing a number of other Schemes such as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) scheme [formerly Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA)], Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme, Army Boys’ Sports companies (ABSC) Scheme, SAI Training Centers (STC) Scheme, Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme and Centers of Excellence (CoE) Scheme.

Shri Sonowal said, under RGKA, construction of sports complexes is undertaken in each rural block of the country, both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines, on land measuring about six-seven acres at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh each (Total Rs.1.60 crore). There is also a provision of Rs. 15 lakh for sports equipment to be provided by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

He said, under the USIS, 100% financial assistance is given, subject to stipulated ceilings to State Governments, Local Civic Bodies, Schools, Colleges and Universities under Central/State Governments, and Sports Control Boards for development of Synthetic playing surface (for Hockey, and Athletics) and for Multipurpose Indoor Hall.

He said, RGKA & USIS Schemes are open to the entire population, including youth, and aim at mass participation and broad-basing of Sports. No data of youth benefitted from these schemes is maintained. However, under PYKKA, a total of 67,931 playfields were approved during the currency of the scheme, i.e., from 2008-09 to 2013-14, and a total of 57,839 playfields have been developed out of them. The total participation in PYKKA annual sports competitions was about 1.64 crores during the period. Under USIS, a total of 50 projects have been sanctioned, out of which 3 projects have been completed. State/UT-wise details of funds released under RGKA and USIS during the last three years and the current year are given in Annex II-V.

In the revised budgetary provisions for the current financial year, Rs. 705 crores has been allocated to Department of Sports to meet, inter-alia, the expenditure on promotion and development of sports, the Minister added.

Click here to see Annexure

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