Lok Sabha Question No. 3947 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-10
Subject: Sports in Rural Areas
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: CHINTAMAN NAVSHA WANAGA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3947 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2017

## Sports in Rural Areas

3947. ADV. CHINTAMAN NAVASHA WANAGA:

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

- (a) the  details  of  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to identify and nurture the sporting talent from rural and tribal areas in the country; and
- (b) the details of units specifically working for this purpose in the country, sports discipline-wise?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

- (a) & (b):       Government under 'Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports' provides for conduct of sports competitions in two age groups of (i) under 14 and (ii) under 17 to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in Sports all over India including rural  and tribal areas  and creation of sports infrastructure facilities.

Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI)  is  already  implementing  the following Sports Promotional Schemes to scout and nurture sports talent  in  the  age  group  ranging  from  8-25  years  to  compete  at National and International level 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)

Accordingly,  SAI  has  established  10  Regional  Centres  and  02 educational institutions to implement the above sports promotional schemes in the country through 289 SAI sports centres.  During the year 2016-17, 13684 talented sports persons (9653 boys and 4031 girls) were trained in 27 sports disciplines

The  majority  of  the  youth  (sports  persons)  selected  under  the above  schemes  are  identified  from  the  rural,  tribal  and  backward areas of the country.  The selected trainees are provided with regular sports  training  in  their  respective  sports  discipline  to  excel  at National and International level competition.

However,  the  Special  Area  Games  SAG)  Scheme  of  SAI  is specially  designed  to  scout    talent  amongst  from  the  tribal,  rural, coastal and far flung areas of the country and train them to achieve excellence  in  their  respective  sports  discipline.    During  2016-17, there were 19 SAG Centres across the country where 2000 sports persons (880 girls and 1120 boys) were being trained on residential and non-residential basis.

Similarly, the Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) Scheme which is a joint venture with Indian Army also identifies sports talent from the rural and tribal areas falling under their regimental centres.  The trainees in the age group of 8-14 years are admitted in ABSC centres for regular sports training and most of them on having been found medically fit are enrolled in the Army on attaining  the age of 17 ½ years.  As on date 1352 boys trainees are being trained in 24 Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) centres across the country.

The selected trainees are provided with  facilities in the form of expert coaches, sports equipment, boarding and lodging, sports kit, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical/ insurance and stipend as per the approved scheme norms.

***