Lok Sabha Question No. 2707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-01
Subject: Outlays/Contribution to Hockey India League
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2707 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2016

## Outlays/Contribution to Hockey India League

## 2707. SHRI KIRTI AZAD :

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  huge  financial  outlays/contribution  that Government Coal Public Sector Undertaking companies are making to Hockey India League (HIL) run by Hockey India, if so, the details thereof  along with the annual sum that Coal India Limited (CIL) is spending to sponsor the Hockey India;
- (b)  whether sports policy of the PSUs under the Coal Ministry allow sponsorship money to be spent on conducting private tournaments where foreign players are bought for crores of rupees, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether  much  of  this  money  raised  from  PSUs  is  used  to  pay  fat  salaries/fees  to officer bearers, officials, lawyers, retainers, consultants etc., if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether the commissions are being paid to procure such sponsorship amounts from the Coal industry, if so, the action proposed to be taken by the Government to check the misuse of public money of the PSUs?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER,  NEW  AND  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  AND  MINES    (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b) : Coal India Limited (CIL) has informed that in accordance with sports promotion objective  of  Govt.  of  India,  CIL  has  adopted  a  comprehensive  sports  policy  for  overall development of sports activities in the company in particular and in the country in general. The sports development activities are carried out from a fund created by contribution from the subsidiaries at the rate of 25 paisa/ton of coal produced in the previous year. One of the objectives  of  sports  policy  of  CIL  is  to  generate  corporate  goodwill  and  brand  equity  by sponsoring various sports and game events at State, National and International level.

In accordance  with  the  above objective of the  sports policy,  CIL    accepted the proposal to sponsor  Hockey India  League, 2016 organized by Hockey India as Hockey is a National and popular  sport  of the country and Hockey India is  the National Sports Federation for hockey  in  India.    Further  it  is  recognized  by  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports, Government of India to manage Hockey for men and women in India and internationally.

As  Hockey India  League  features  the  world's  best  players  from  across  the  globe, it provides an opportunity  to Indian  players  to  learn and  develop from the   world's best players. Hockey India  League  has groomed  and developed the young Indian players  in their  journey  from  Coal  India    Hockey    League  to  the  Indian  team.  Coal  India  sponsored Hockey  India  League  featured 16 Olympians   who  participated  in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games on behalf of India .

Thus,  CIL  supplemented  the  country's efforts  to assist  sportspersons  reach  higher  levels of  performance  by  giving  local  talent   requisite exposure  to  international standards  with ultimate  aim of  bringing  national and international  acclaim and  glory.   CIL   has  released Rs.1408.07  lakhs  for  Title Sponsor  of Hockey India League 2016  under its sports  policy for  the year 2016.

All such efforts to support hockey have already started yielding results and India's rankings, both at the Asian and global level, have improved significantly.

- (c): CIL has informed that Hockey India comes under the ambit of audit of the CAG.   Last CAG's  audit  was  done  for   years  2009-2013(4 years together) in February / March, 2016.

Coal India Ltd. paid Hockey India under following heads:-

| Sl. No.   | Particulars                                                                                                          |   Amount (Rs. in Lakhs) |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 1.        | Title Sponsorship                                                                                                    |                 1300    |
| 2.        | Most valuable player of the tournament &Coal India Goal of the match award                                           |                   67    |
| 3.        | Cost of perimeter board, cost of execution of 3D Cam carpets in each venue, cost of display board at various stadium |                   41.07 |
|           | Total                                                                                                                |                 1408.07 |

As per the agreement signed, various benefits were provided to Coal India Limited as Title Sponsor. These included naming Hockey League as 'Coal India Hockey League', prominent display of the composite logo of Coal India Limited and Hockey India on the uniform of the players, the chest of match officials and match umpire etc.  All  matches of  Hockey India League  were  telecast  live through  leading  sports  channel across  the world.

- (d):  No commission was paid for the Title sponsorship. Further,  CIL  has  entered   into an integrity  pact agreement  with  Hockey India to enhance  access to  information and  increase the levels of  transparency and  integrity in public contracting.

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