Lok Sabha Question No. 356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-17
Subject: Review of Schemes for Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 356 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.11.2016

Review of Schemes for Sports

## 356. SHRI RAOSAHEB DANVE PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to improve the  performance  in  various  sports  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the outcome thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) the details of the various schemes/ programmes being implemented to encourage sports in the country along with the total number of youth sportspersons benefited thereunder during the last three years and the current year, scheme and State-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  recently  reviewed  the  various schemes/ programmes for the welfare of the youths/ sportspersons in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  cases  of  alleged  irregularities/misuse  of  funds under these schemes/programmes have come to the notice of the Government during the said period; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon by the Government ?

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

- (a) Consultation with various stake holders have been held after Olympics  2016  and  it  has  been  decided  to  enhance  performance monitoring  and  emphasize  on  proper  education  of  athletes  and development  of  Coaches,  establish  quality  control  mechanism  for training Camps and emphasize on National Sports Federations (NSFs) to professionalize themselves by taking professionals as CEOs  for athlete training,  coach development, scientific profiling of athletes, etc.

Further, NSFs have already been advised by the department to identify medal prospects and their support staff for the 2020 Olympic Games  so  as  to  ensure  that  the  core  probables    get  support  of dedicated world class support staff on a continuing basis to be able to work as a coherent team and deliver the outcomes.

- (b)      The  details  of  major  schemes  being  implemented  by  the Department of Sports for the development of sports in the country are given in the Annexure.

The  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  does  not  maintain  a comprehensive data about number of youth sportspersons benefited during the last three years and current year, scheme and State-wise. Participation of Indian sportspersons and teams in multisportspersons in multi-sports events such as Olympic Games, Asian Games  and  Commonwealth  Games  is  done  by  Indian  Olympic Association  in  consultation  with  the  concerned  National  Sports Federations.

- (c) Reviewing the various schemes/programmes for the welfare of the youth/sportspersons is a continuous process and is done keeping in  view  the  provisions  of  the  relevant  schemes  from  time  to  time. Details of recent review is given in Para (a) above.
- (d) & (e):  Whenever, cases of alleged irregularities/misuse of funds under the  schemes / programmes of the department of Sports have come to the notice of the Department, the same are dealt with as per established procedure and action taken accordingly. No major case of  alleged  irregularities/misuse  has  been  reported  for  the  funds

released by Department of Sports during last 3 years and the current year except for the following:Two Matter of irregularities/ misuse of funds under Panchayat Yuva  Krida  Aur  Khel  Abhiyan  (PYKKA)  scheme  have  come  to  the notice  of  Government  in  respect  of  the  State  of  Bihar  and  Uttar Pradesh. As regards misappropriation/embezzlement of funds released to the State of Bihar under PYKKA, the allegations were got enquired into by deputing an Audit Team of the Ministry of Human Resources Development who submitted its report on 20.03.2015. A copy of the audit report has been forwarded by Secretary (Sports) to the Chief Secretary Bihar for corrective action and arrange to refund the entire grant  along  with  interest  immediately,  highlighting  the  lacunae  in implementation of the Scheme like (i) non-release of funds on time and its proper utilization (ii) non-submission of Utilization Certificates (iii) non-monitoring and supervision by the State Government (iv) lack of administrative will, etc. As regards misappropriation/embezzlement of funds released to the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  under  PYKKA,  State  Government  has settled  its  accounts  for  all  the  grants  released  under  PYKKA  by submitting the Utilization Certificates which have been accepted by the competent authority.

## Annexure

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred question No. 356 to be answered on 17.11.2016 regarding 'review of schemes for Sports' by Shri RAOSAHEB DANVE PATIL:

Following major schemes are being implemented by the Department of Sports for the development of sports in the country:

- (i) Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for conduct of National Championships at Senior, Junior, SubJunior  level  for  men  and  women,  conduct  of  international tournaments in India, participation of sportspersons in international sports competitions, organizing coaching camps, engagement of foreign coaches, and  procurement of sports equipments.  The main aim of the scheme is to prepare Indian sportsperson/teams  to  prepare  them  for  major  international sporting  events  like  Asian  Games,  Commonwealth  Games  & Olympics.
- (ii) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for various activities including  giving  assistance  to  elite  athletes,  who  are  medal prospects  for  their  customized  and  tailor-made  training  and competition exposure.
- (iii) Scheme of Human Resource Development in Sports focusses on developing human resources in sports sciences and sports medicine for the overall development of sports and games in the country. The scheme also provides assistance to coaches and  referees  /  judges  to  upgrade  knowledge  /  accreditation level and assistance for participation and conduct of seminars in India, etc.
- (iv) Scheme of Special Cash Awards for Winners of medals in international sports events and their coaches.
- (v) Scheme  of  Pension  to  Meritorious  Sportspersons  after  they retire from active sports career with the objective of providing
- them financial security and incentivizing achievements.

sporting

- (vi) Scheme  of  National  Sports  Awards,  viz,  Rajiv  Gandhi  Khel Ratna,  Arjuna  Awards,  Dronacharya  Awards,  Dhyanchand Awards  for honouring them  for their achievements  and contribution as sportspersons and coaches.
- (vii) National  Welfare  Fund  for  Sportspersons  for  providing  lump sum  financial  assistance  to  sportspersons  now  living  in indigent conditions for their medical treatment, etc.
- (viii) Scheme of Sports & Games for Persons with Disabilities  for broad-basing of sports among differently-abled sportspersons by way  of conduct of training for community coaches, conduct of sports competitions and providing assistance to schools/institutes  having  differently-abled  sportspersons  on their rolls for procurement of sports equipments and engagement of coaches on contract basis.
- (ix) A new scheme, known as Khelo India - National Program for Development  of  Sports,  having  3  major  components  namely Competitions, Talent Search and creation of Sports Infrastructure, is being launched during 2016-17.

Following  schemes  are  being  implemented  by  Sports  Authority  of India (SAI), an autonomous body under administrative control of the Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports,  for  talent  identification  and nurturing of identified talented sportspersons development of sports:

- (a) National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC): The main objective of the scheme is to identify gifted and talented sportspersons among school
- children.
- (b) Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) is implemented in collaboration with the Army.  Children are imparted scientific training

to  achieve  excellence  at  national  and  international  levels.    The scheme also provides job opportunities in the Indian Army. (c) Special Area Games (SAG): This Scheme follows an area-specific approach to scout and nurture talent for modern competitive games and sports from tribal, rural, coastal and hilly areas of the country. The main objective of the scheme is to train talented and meritorious sportspersons. (d) SAI Training Centres (STC): Under this scheme, talented youth are given the option to join the scheme on residential or non-residential basis. (e) Centres of Excellence (COE): The main objective of this scheme is to  identify  and  train  outstanding  sportspersons  who  are  medal prospects for the country in international competitions.