Lok Sabha Question No. 765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-20
Subject: Promotion of Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 765

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2017

## Promotion of Sports

+ 765. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make the subjects of sports more  interesting  in  primary  and  higher  secondary  schools  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  extend  various  sports programmes/schemes  like  'slum-running'  from  district  level  to  State level and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to promote various sports apart from athletics in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

- (a)  &  (b):  As  Sports  is  a  State  subject,  the  primary  responsibility  for promoting  sports  including  encouraging  sports  among  students  at

primary and higher secondary school level is that of States.  However, Department of Sports and the Sports Authority of India supplement the efforts  of  the  States.  School  Games  Federation  of  India  (SGFI)  and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) have been recognized by the Government  of  India  as  National  Sports  Promotion  Organizations (NSPOs)  and  are  eligible  for  the  same  level  of  assistance  as  are available to National Sports Federations (NSFs).

Ministry of Human Resource Development has, inter-alia, intimated that as per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005, Health and Physical Education is a compulsory subject upto X Class and optional subject at Higher Secondary Stage. Health and Physical Education includes age appropriate games  and  sports including athletics, swimming and gymnastic. National Curriculum also focuses that  to  transact  this  areas  effectively,  it  is  essential  that  minimum physical space and equipment's are available in every school.

Further, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)  Act,  2009,  has  been  enacted,  making  elementary  education  a Fundamental Right, which, inter alia, provides for

- (i) a play ground for each school;
- (ii) A  part  time  instructor  for  physical  education  in  upper primary schools;
- (iii) Supply  of  play  material,  games  and  sports  equipment,  as required, to schools.

In  terms  of  the  provisions  of  the  RTE  Act,  no  school  shall  be established  or  recognized  unless  it  fulfils  the  norms  specified  in  the Schedule attached to the Act.

(c)  to  (e):  A  Scheme  called  'Khelo  India  -  National  Programme  for Development  of  Sports'  is  being  implemented  by  this  Ministry  as  a Central Sector Scheme from the current financial year 2016-17. This Scheme, inter-alia, provides for holding of annual sports competitions in respect of priority and popular sports in two age groups of (i) under 14 and (ii) under 17 all over India to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in Sports in both urban and  rural areas including schools and identification of talented sportspersons. However, there is no  proposal  to  implement  schemes  like  'slum-running'  from  district level to state level as of now.

Further,  to  promote  various  sports  in  the  country  apart  from athletics, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following Sports Promotional Schemes to identify talented sports person in the age  group  of  8-25  years  and  nurture  them  to  excel  at  National  and International level competition:

-  National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)
1. Indigenous Games & Martial Arts, (IGMA)
2. Akharas
-  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)

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