Lok Sabha Question No. 4719 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Promotion of Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: NEIPHIU RIO

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4719 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017 Promotion of Sports

4719. SHRI NEIPHIU RIO:

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

(a) whether the Government has any dedicated sports policy aimed at  achieving  success  at  International  Sports  events  and  if  so,  the details thereof;

(b) whether  the  Government  has  any  blueprint  for  development  of modern sports infrastructure and training facilities for the purpose and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to make any changes in the management and system of Sports Authority of India in the aftermath of poor outcome achieved in Rio Olympics-2016 and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for development and promotion of sports in the North Eastern  Region (NER) in view of improved rate of success therefrom; and

(e)    the  reasons  for  slow  pace  of  utilization  of  funds  from  National Sports Development Fund?

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

- (a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  Department  of  Sports  has  a  National  Sports Policy  which  was  formulated  in  2001.  The  salient  features  of  the National Sports Policy, 2001 are as under:
- (i)
- Broad-basing of sports and achievement of excellence;
- (ii)
- (iii)
- Upgradation and development of infrastructure;
- Support to National Sports Federations and other sports bodies;
- (iv) Strengthening of scientific and coaching support to sports;
- (v)
- Special incentives to promote sports;
- (vi) Enhanced participation of women, scheduled tribes and rural youth;
- (vii) Involvement of corporate sector in sports promotion; and
- (viii) Promote sports-mindedness among the public at large.

'Sports' being a state subject, promotion and development of sports in the  country  is  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments/UT's  and concerned  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs).  Government  of  India supplements their efforts through its various schemes.

Under  the  'Scheme  of  Assistance  to  NSFs',  financial  assistance  is given  to  NSFs  for  holding  national  coaching  camps,  procurement  of sports  equipments,  holding  national/international  sports  events  in India,  participation  of  sportspersons/teams  in  international  sports events abroad Based on standard of Indian athletes/teams at International level and their probability to win medal or give respectable performance at International level, sports disciplines are being  identified  and  categorized  in  four  categories  i.e.  High  Priority, Priority, General & Others.

Further,  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. Khelo India Scheme provides for holding of sports competitions in two age groups of (i) under 14 and (ii) under 17 at District, State and National level 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 from the sports competitions.

This Scheme  also  provides  for  creation of sports infrastructure facilities,  namely,  Synthetic  Athletic  Track,  Synthetic  Hockey  Field, Synthetic Turf Football Ground, Multipurpose hall, Swimming pool, etc. There  is  no  specific  provision  under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme  for development of modern sports infrastructure and training facilities for achieving success at international sports events.

- (c): Improvement and changes in SAI is an ongoing process.
- (d)  To promote sports in the country, SAI is implementing its following sports promotional schemes across the country including North East Region:
-  National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme
-  Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC)
-  SAI Training Centre (STC)
- 
- Special Area Games (SAG)
- 
- Extension Centre of STC/SAG
-  Centre of Excellence (CoE)
-  National Sports Academy (NSA)

Accordingly, SAI has established 10 Regional Centres and 02 Academic Institutions in the country of which 02 Regional Centres are located in the North Eastern Region viz SAI Regional Centre, Guwahati and Imphal.

Presently,  under  SAI  schemes  total  13684  talented  sports  persons (9653 boys and 4032 girls) are being trained in 27 sports disciplines and out of  which 2442 (1515 boys and 927 girls) sports persons are being trained on residential and non residential basis in 32 SAI Centres spread across the North Eastern Region.

Based  on  the  performance  of  trainees  in  SAI  Sports  promotional schemes in NER, approval has also been conveyed to start Extension Centre  of  STC/SAG  in  Sarita  Regional  Boxing  Academy,  Manipur  and Majuli Auniati Hem  Chandra  Higher  Secondary  School  (AHCHS), Assam.  With  the  financial  assistance  from  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs and Sports, the eminent sports person Ms Marykom has established a Boxing Academy at Imphal and an MoU has also been signed with SAI to train talented boxers from the region.

Khelo India Scheme covers the entire country including North Eastern Region (NER).

In order to promote sports in North Eastern Region (NER), it has been proposed  to  conduct  Himalayan  Region  Games  (HRG)  covering  all North Eastern States and the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand,  Himachal  Pradesh  and  Sikkim  and  also  inviting  foreign countries  like  Afghanistan,  Bhutan,  Nepal,  Myanmar  and  Thailand  in November, 2017.

- (e)    National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) has provided financial assistance  to  some  organizations  located  in  North  Eastern  Region (NER) for development of sports infrastructure as indicated below:

| Name of the organization                                    | Period of assistance   | Amount         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|----------------|
| Dibrugarh University, Guwahati (Assam)                      | 2009-10 to 2010- 11    | Rs 223.40 Lacs |
| Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation, Imphal (Manipur)       | 2013-14 to 2016- 17    | Rs 416.04 Lacs |
| Abhiruchi Institute of Physical Education, Guwahati (Assam) | 2015-16 to 2016- 17    | Rs 92.26 Lacs  |

Further, NSDF is also giving financial assistance to elite sportspersons, who  are medal prospects at major international competitions, for their customized training and institutes/organizations for  projects,  which  are  aimed  at  promotion  of  excellence  in  sports.

The NSDF support for promoting sports excellence in the country is an ongoing process and money is being utilized diligently.  The utilization of fund during the last two years and current year is as under:

| Year    |   Amount utilized for promotion of sports (Rs in crores) |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| 2014-15 |                                                    12.56 |
| 2015-16 |                                                    25.7  |
| 2016-17 |                                                    38.6  |

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