Lok Sabha Question No. 160 (STARRED), answered on 2017-12-28
Subject: Sports Promotion in Rural/Hilly/ Remote areas
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO JADHAV, RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS& SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*160

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2017

Sports Promotion in Rural/Hilly/ Remote areas

†*160.

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

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

- (a)  whether  any  special  campaign  has  been/is  being  run  to  promote sports  talents  in  rural  areas  in  the  country  particularly  in  Vidarbha region in Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof, region-wise;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor along with the scheme formulated/being formulated for encouraging sports talents in rural/hilly/remote regions
- in the country;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to implement such schemes at the village/ panchayat level and provide free sports material to enrich
- the sports talents;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  the  number  of  recommendations/  suggestions  received  by  the Government from each State  regarding  development  of  sports  in  the country during the last three years, State-wise and the steps taken in the light of those recommendations?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  †*160  FOR  28.12.2017  ASKED  BY SHRI  PRATAPRAO  JADHAV  AND  PROF.  RAVINDRA  VISHWANATH GAIKWAD,  MPs,  REGARDING  SPORTS  PROMOTION  IN  RURAL/HILLY/

REMOTE AREAS

- (a) & (b) Sports being a State subject, promotion and development of Sports  in  the  country  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State Government.  In  order  to  complement/supplement  the  efforts  of  the State  Governments  in  this  regard,  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  & Sports has been implementing various schemes for promotion of sports in the entire country, including  Vidarbha  region  in  Maharashtra, through creation/development of sports infrastructure and conduct of annual sports competitions.

The  'Khelo  India  -  National  Programme  for  Development  of Sports' Scheme, inter-alia includes a vertical of 'Talent Identification and Development', to identify and develop sporting talents from across the country, including rural areas of the country. The relevant provisions of the Scheme are given in Annexure - I. The Scheme also provides  for  holding  of  annual  rural  and  indigenous/tribal  games, national  level  competitions  and  aims  at  disseminating  information  to present  generation  about  these  games  and  also  encourage  children and youth to take up these games in a major way, paving way for their future mainstreaming.

In  addition,  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.  Many  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.

The  scheme  is  applicable  all  over  India  including  rural/  hilly/ remote areas.

(c) & (d) The above Schemes give opportunity to the youth residing in  village/panchayat  areas  to  be  considered  for  selection.  Further, under  the  sports  promotional  schemes  of  SAI,  there  is  provision  for providing sports kits and equipment for the trainees. (e) Details of the number of recommendations/ suggestions received by  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports,  from  each  State  regarding development of sports in the country during the last three years, Statewise  and  the  steps  taken  in  the  light  of  those  recommendations,  is being compiled and will be placed on the Table of the House.

- *****

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF  THE LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  †*160  FOR  28.12.2017  ASKED BY  SHRI  PRATAPRAO  JADHAV  AND  PROF.  RAVINDRA  VISHWANATH GAIKWAD,  MPs,  REGARDING  SPORTS  PROMOTION  IN  RURAL/HILLY/ REMOTE AREAS

## Annexure - I Relevant provisions for nurturing sports talent 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.

*****