Lok Sabha Question No. 962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Young Sports Talent
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 962 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018

## Young Sports Talent

962.  DR. P.K. BIJU:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce new policy/measures for  identifying  and  developing  new  and  young  sports  talents  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the existing policy measures have been helpful in finding the sports talents which are hidden in rural areas; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

- (a) & (b) A  Scheme  called  'Khelo  India  -  National  Programme  for Development of Sports' was formulated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports  to  promote  sports  through  creation  of  sports  infrastructure  and conduct of annual sports competitions in the entire country, and it was implemented  from  the  financial  year  2016-17.  The  earlier  Khelo  India Scheme has been revised and revamped during the current financial year 2017-18.  The  revamped  Scheme, inter-alia  includes  a vertical  of  'Talent Identification  and  Development'.  The  relevant  provisions  of  the  Scheme are given in Annexure - I.

Further, this Ministry through Sports Authority of India (SAI) has launched the National Sports Talent Search Portal (NSTSP) on 28.08.2017 where players, both boys and girls belonging to various sports disciplines can  register  themselves  and  upload  their  performance/achievements  in different sports events through an online application process. Selection of sporting talents from amongst the applicants will be done in a transparent  manner  through  competitive  performance  and  assessment and  selected  talent  will  be  eligible  for  nurturing  under  a  Long  Term Athlete Development (LTAD) programme.

(c) & (d) Yes, Madam. The  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI),  an  autonomous  organization under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is implementing a number  of  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. Majority of the sports persons selected under the above schemes are identified from the rural, tribal and backward areas of the country. Presently,  under  SAI  Sports  Promotional  Schemes  14,505  talented sports person (10195 boys and 4310 girls) are being provided with regular sports training in 27 sports disciplines on residential and non-residential basis in 303 SAI sports centres. Further, 1st  Khelo India School Games, which are being held in Delhi from  31st  January  to  8th   February,  2018,  also  provide  an  avenue  for identification of sporting talent and their subsequent development.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  &  (b)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 962 FOR 08.02.2018 ASKED BY DR. P.K. BIJU, MP, REGARDING YOUNG SPORTS TALENT

## Annexure - I

## Relevant provisions for 'Talent Identification and Development'under the Khelo India Scheme

The  National  competitions  involving  schools,  colleges,  Universities  and  NSFs  under Khelo India Scheme, National Championships, and National Sports Talent Search Portal of SAI, will provide a platform for identification of talented sports persons in priority Sports disciplines in which the country has potential/advantage.  In addition to selection of prize winners, the duly constituted talent identification committee may also adopt globally accepted scientific methods to spot and identify talent in various sports disciplines. The  identification of talented sportspersons  will  be  done  in  a  transparent  manner  through  competitive  performance  and assessment  made  through  scientifically  designed  battery  of  tests.      Further,  a  National  Talent Search  Portal  has  been  launched  recently  which  will  provide  seamless  access  to  upload individual  achievements.  In  addition,  the  Gujarat  model  of  mobile  van  will  be  adopted  for carrying  out  scientific  evaluation  at  remote  places  for  better  identification  of  the  talented sportspersons.  During  the  talent  identification  drive  sporting  talent  hubs,  discipline  wise, including indigenous games, shall be identified and duly mapped. Efforts will be made through sports academies to conduct special programmes to encourage such specific sport / game in that area.

Out  of  the  talented  players  identified  in  priority  sports  disciplines  at  various  levels through different avenues, best talents in those sports discipline will be identified by the High Powered  Committee  and  provided  annual  financial  assistance,  at  the  rate  of  Rs.5.00  lakh  per annum,  for  a  period  of  8  years  under  a  Long  Term  Athlete  Development  Programme. Continuation of support to an individual athlete will be subject to his/her progress/performance in  the  identified  sports  discipline  concerned,  ensuring  the  best  performers,  having  potential  to excel at the highest level, are given continuous support and non-performers/ non achievers can be taken out of the system. This will ensure a sizable bench strength that the country is lacking at present. Additional funding requirement, if any, shall be met through mobilizing CSR support.

An  amount  of  Rs.10  crore  annually  will  be  earmarked  for  maintenance  of  the  Online Portal, identification of sporting talents through different avenues, including through advanced scientific  profiling,  short  listing  of  talents  and  recommending  the  best  talents  for  providing support. Identification of sporting talent will involve conduct of pan-India trials involving about 50,000 to 1,00,000 children by Talent Scouts (to be engaged for the purpose), in association with States/UTs. An amount of Rs.50 crore will be earmarked annually for providing annual financial assistance, at the rate of Rs.5.00 lakh per annum for 1000 athletes, for a period of 8 years, to identified athletes, under a Long Term Athlete Development Programme. Thus, Rs. 60 crore (Rs. 50 crore for talent  nurturing  towards Training /  Coaching, Consumables & Equipment, Sports Nutrition support, Sports Science Support etc., and Rs. 10 crore for maintenance of online portal, Identification  of  Talent  through  trials,  shortlisting  of  identified  talents  through  Scientific profiling etc.). In the second year, when additional 1000 athletes are added, Rs. 110 crore (Rs. 50 crore each for first year and second year athletes for their talent nurturing and Rs. 10 crore for talent  search  and  development)  and  so  on.  The  expenditure  will  be  incurred  on  various components mentioned above and no fee/scholarship will be paid to the athlete.

Department  of  Sports  will  provide  financial  assistance  as  well  as  overall  guidance, supervision and monitoring. Implementation will be through SAI and involve State Governments as  well  as  reputed  athletes  and  private  bodies.  International  experts  shall  also  be  engaged  for project implementation.

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