Lok Sabha Question No. 3299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-15
Subject: Promotion of Sports amongst Divyang People
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3299 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2018

Promotion of Sports amongst Divyang People

†3299. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the information regarding the proposed national games for the divyang is not reaching to the divyang people;
- (b) if so,  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for disseminating such information amongst the divyang people well in time so as to enhance their participation;
- (c) whether the divyang people are not able to get the right platform for various sports activities and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to address this issue?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Promotion and development of sports among the divyang (differently abled) persons, including conducting various sports events for them,and  dissemination  of  information  among  divyang  athletes  about such  events,  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned  National Sports Federation (NSFs). This Ministry supplements the efforts of NSFs by  providing  financial  assistance  for  organizing  national/international championships in India, training and participation in international events abroad,  purchase  of  equipment,  etc.  For  promotion  of  sports  among differently abled athletes this Ministry has recognized three NSFs namely All  India  Sports  Council  of  the  Deaf,  Special  Olympics  Bharat  and Paralympic Committee of India. All these three NSFs have been placed in 'Priority' category so that they are eligible for maximum assistance under the 'Scheme of Assistance to NSFs'. In addition to the above the Khelo India Scheme being implemented by this Ministry, inter-alia, includes a vertical 'Promotion of Sports among persons with disabilities' in order to provide more avenues for promotion of sports among persons with disabilities. Salient features of this verticalare given at Annexure - I. Further, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous body under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, has established an exclusive  SAI  Training  Centre  at  SAI  Regional  Centre,  Gandhinagar (Gujarat)  in  the  discipline  of  Athletics,  Swimming  &  Power  Lifting,  for promotion of sports amongst the divyang sportspersons.Requisite upgradation  of  sports  infrastructure  to  meet  the  requirement  of  sports training for para athletes has also been done in the Centre. Presently  13  Divyang  (Para  Athletes)  are  being  trained  at  SAI Training Centre (STC) (Para) Gandhinagar during 2017-2018. Many  of  the  sports  facilities  being  created  by  SAI  have  been constructed keeping in mind the needs of persons with disabilities, with

disabled friendly ramps, accessible toilets, etc.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  †3299  FOR  15.03.2018  ASKED  BY SHRI  KRUPAL  BALAJI  TUMANE,  MP,  REGARDING  PROMOTION  OF SPORTS AMONGST DIVYANG PEOPLE

## Annexure - I

## Relevant provision of the vertical 'Promotion of sports among persons with disabilities'

Financial assistance will be provided to States/UTs and SAI for creation of specialist sports infrastructure  for  persons  with  disabilities.  Funds  required  for  making  stadia  disabled  friendly  / barrier  free  will  be  accessed  from  Scheme  for  Implementation  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  Act (SIPDA) of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The funds provided under this head  will  be  used  for  classification  of  players,  equipment,  training  and  preparation  of  teams  for Paralympic Games and disciplines and competitions.

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