Lok Sabha Question No. 1546 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-09
Subject: Promotion of Wrestling
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, PINAKI MISRA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1546 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2017

## Promotion of Wrestling

†1546.  SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

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

- whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  any  scheme regarding construction and maintenance of 'Akhada' for promoting
- (a) wrestling in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the names of the locations identified along with the budgetary provisions made for the purpose e.g. State/ UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government makes any budgetary allocation for the promotion of wrestling for men and women separately and if so, the  details  thereof  during  each  of  the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to enhance the said budgetary  allocation  for  women  particularly  in  view  of  the  better performance of women wrestlers in the Olympics-2016 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for promotion of wrestling amongst women players in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) &(b): Government  of  India  through  Sports  Authority  of  India (SAI)  under  its  National  Sports  Talent  Contest  Scheme  (NSTC)

adopts Akharas which have produced talented wrestlers in the past and  having  indoor  training  facility.    The  adopted  Akharas  are provided with Sports Kit, Stipend, Competition Exposure and Insurance.  For training provision of a specialized Wrestling coach along with a set of Wrestling Mats / Multi gym is made.  Presently there are 41 Akharas adopted by SAI where 724 wrestlers (664 boys and  60  girls)  are  being  trained.  However,  as  such  there  is  no scheme for construction & maintenance of Akhara.

Apart from above, Wrestling is also one of the identified sports discipline  under  other  schemes  of  SAI  in  which  presently  1228 wrestlers (1093 boys and 135 girls) are being trained in 72 centres spread throughout the country.

- (c)            As  far  as  preparation  of  Indian  Wrestling  team  under  the scheme  of  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs)  is concerned budgetary allocation is made for the Wrestling discipline in  total,  not  segregating  between  men  and  women.  The  men  and women  wrestlers  are  treated  at  par  and  provided  with  similar facilities.  Budget  allocation  for  wrestling  spent  by  SAI  during  last three years is as under:-

| Year    | Amount          |
|---------|-----------------|
| 2013-14 | Rs. 13 Crore    |
| 2014-15 | Rs. 13 Crore    |
| 2015-16 | Rs. 14 Crore    |
| 2016-17 | Rs. 15.40 Crore |

The budget allocation to the Wrestling sport is being suitably enhanced every year as per the requirement finalized in consultation with the Wrestling Federation of India.

The details of the funds spent by National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) on the training of sportspersons under the Scheme of Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) during the last three years and the current year are as under:

| Year    | Amount        |
|---------|---------------|
| 2013-14 | NIL           |
| 2014-15 | NIL           |
| 2015-16 | Rs. 34,67,684 |
| 2016-17 | Rs. 41,22,864 |

(d) & (e):   Under SAI Schemes  the female wrestlers are also inducted  for  regular  training  on  residential  and  non-residential basis.  Presently, there are 135 female wrestlers (49 residential and 86 non-residential) under training in SAI centres.

To  exclusively  nurture  female  wrestlers,  SAI  has  recently adopted Jog Maharaj Vyayamshala, Pune under its Akhara Scheme and 19 talented female wrestlers are being trained in the Akhara.

Wrestling  being  a  traditional  Indian  sport,  efforts  are  being made  to admit more  number  of female wrestlers under SAI schemes,  since  there  is  enormous  potential  among  the  Indian women in the discipline of wrestling

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