Lok Sabha Question No. 867 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-20
Subject: Promotion of Sports in NER
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.867

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2017

## Promotion of Sports in NER

## 867. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  or  proposes  to  take steps  for  promoting  the  talented  sportspersons/athletes  from North Eastern Region (NER) to participate at National and International level;
- (b) if  so,  the details thereof along with the policy adopted by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether it is a fact that only limited number of sportspersons belonging to NER get opportunity to participate at International level due to shortage of sports infrastructure in that region; and
- (d) if so, the remedial steps taken/ being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam. To promote sports in the country including North  Eastern  Region,  SAI  is  implementing  the  following  sports promotional  schemes  to  identify  talented  sports  persons  in  the age groups ranging from 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at national and international competitions across the country:
-  National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)
-  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)

Further  to  strengthen  the  ongoing  schemes  of  SAI  in  the North Eastern Region, SAI has decided to operationalize its SAG Centre at Churachandpur, Manipur and to identify more number of sports  persons  from  North  East,    SAI  has  decided  to  upgrade  or establish the following Centres in the North Eastern Region :

-  Shifting of existing STC Shillong to North Eastern Hill University, Shillong  where  international  standard  sports  infrastructure  has been created.
- Establishment  of  SAG  Centre  at  Solal  Gaon,  North  Lakhimpur,
-  Assam
-  Relocation of the existing STC at Dimapur on land provided by the State Government.
- (c) & (d): No, Madam. As a matter of fact, considering the nature and  topography  of  North  Eastern  States,  large  number  of  sports person men and women in various sports discipline participate in the  international  level  competitions  and  bring  laurels  for  the country.

Moreover, a Scheme called 'Khelo India -National Programme for  Development  of  Sports'  is  being  implemented  by this  Ministry  as  a  Central  Sector  Scheme from the financial year 2016-17. This Scheme provides for creation of sports infrastructure facilities, namely, Synthetic Athletic Track, Synthetic Hockey Field, Synthetic Turf Football Ground, Multipurpose  hall,  Swimming  pool  and  construction  of  stadia complex, holding of 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,  etc.,  all over the country including North Eastern Region (NER).

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