Lok Sabha Question No. 4764 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-15
Subject: Review of Sports Policies
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, MAHEISH GIRRI, NIHAL CHAND CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4764 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2016

Review of Sports Policies

4764. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review  the  extant sports policies and if so, the details and the objectives thereof;
- (b) whether the revised policy is likely to focus on development of sports infrastructure and promotion of sports under rural and urban areas separately and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  a  new scheme for promotion of sports among the children in schools and colleges and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether the Government proposes to grant special status to  differently-abled  sportspersons  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof along  with  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for promotion of sports among them and the details of funds allocated/released  for  the  purpose  during  the  last  three  years  and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  pension  to former sportspersons and if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) & (b) No Madam. The existing National Sports Policy, 2001 is both  comprehensive  &  holistic  and  aims  to  achieve  the  goals  of mass participation in sports and promotion of excellence in sports. The various schemes of the department are tailored for achieving of  the  aforesaid  two  objectives  including  development  of  sports infrastructure and promotion of sports in rural and urban areas.
- (c) 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. The Scheme provides for holding of annual sports competitions 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 and identification of talented sportspersons through competitions and creation of sports infrastructure  facilities.  The  talented  players  identified  at  district level competitions onward will be eligible for grant of scholarships for a period of 12 months. This is expected to give a fillip to school sports.
- (d) Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  treats  Differently-abled sportspersons  at  par  with  the  abled  sportspersons  and  provides with all requisite facilities besides their special needs.  Paralympic Committee  of  India  (PCI),  All  India  Sports  Council  of  the  Deaf (AISCD) and Specially Olympic Bharat (SOB) are the National Sports federations recognised by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and are primarily responsible for development of sports among the differently-abled. The Ministry supplements their efforts by providing financial assistance under the Scheme  of  Financial Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for preparation of Indian  sportspersons  and  teams  for  participation  in  International

competitions. All the three aforesaid bodies have placed in 'priority' category  for allocation of funds under the said scheme.

There is another scheme in the department named 'promotion of sports and games for the disabled'.  Presently under this scheme, mainly  sports  competitions  are  organised  among  the  differentlyabled sportspersons.

Budgetary  allocation  and  expenditure  under  the  said  two schemes  during  last  3  years  and  the  current  year  is  as  follows Budgetary allocation is not state / UT Wise :-

| Scheme of Assistance to NSFs *            | Budgetary allocation   | Expenditure Release   |
|-------------------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2013-14                                   | 170 Crores             | 175 Crores            |
| 2014-15                                   | 185 Crores             | 183.93 Crores         |
| 2015-16                                   | 350 Crores             | 350 Crores            |
| 2016-17 ( as on 29.11.16 )                | 399.85 Crores          | 215.55 Crores         |
| Scheme promotion of sports among disabled |                        |                       |
| 2013-14                                   | 7 Crores               | 7 Crores              |
| 2014-15                                   | 4 Crores               | 3.26 Crores           |
| 2015-16                                   | 2.10 Crores            | 2.08 Crores           |
| 2016-17 ( as on 29.11.16 )                | 4 Crores               | 2.42 Crores           |

* Financial assistance  is provided  to  various  National  Sports Federations  under  the  said  scheme  including  those  meant  for promoting sports among differentially - abled.

Besides cash awards and pension is also given by Department of Sports to meritorious differentially abled sportspersons.

Department  of  Empowerment  of  Persons  with  Disabilities under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has informed that during 2015-16, an amount of Rs. 2.52 crore was sanctioned by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) for creation of barrier-free environment at five Sports Authority  of  India  (SAI)  centres  in  Kolkata,  Bengaluru,  Patiala, Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education(LNCPE) Trivandrum and Gandhinagar under the Scheme for Implementation of  Persons  with  Disability  Act,  1995  (SIPDA)    and  1.26  crore  has

been released as 1 st  instalment (50%) to SAI.

(e) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provides pension to those  meritorious  sportspersons  who  have  retired  from  active sports  career    and  have  won  gold,  silver  and  bronze  medals  in Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games,  Paralympic games  and  World  Cup/World  Championships  in  Olympic  and  Asian Games disciplines and under the scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons.

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