Lok Sabha Question No. 3835 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-18
Subject: Participation of Children in Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3835

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2021

Participation of Children in Sports

†3835. SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR CHAUDHARY:

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

- (a)  whether  colleges  and  degree  colleges  provide  appropriate/adequate opportunities to children desirous of making their career in sports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is having any programme at present to increase participation of children and youth in sports;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether adequate facilities are available with the Government to impart training to children and the youth for the sports;
- (f) if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the other steps taken by the Government to ensure people's better/greater access to sports facilities?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { SHRI KIREN RIJIJU }

(a) and (b) Yes, Sir. While it depends on the choice of the student in which filed  he/she  wants  to  make  a  career,  the  schools  and  colleges  provide adequate opportunities for their participation in national and international tournaments  through  the  concerned  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs). Further, there is provision for reservation of up to 3% in direct recruitment vacancies  in  Group  'C'  and  erstwhile  Group  'D'  posts  in  the  Central Government offices against sports quota vacancies. Participation in national and international sports is open to all including students who fulfill the age criteria and selection criteria fixed by the concerned NSFs.

(c)  to  (g)  'Sports'  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  to  increase participation of children and youth in sports and provide adequate facilities to  impart  training  to  children  and  the  youth  for  the  sports  rests  with  the respective State/Union  Territory  Governments.  The  Union  Government supplements their efforts by bridging the critical gaps. The Ministry of Youth Affairs &  Sports has formulated the following schemes  to  increase participation of children and youth in sports:-

(i)  Khelo  India  Scheme  (ii)  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations;  (iii) Special Awards to Winners in International sports events and their Coaches; (iv)  National  Sports  Awards,  Pension  to  Meritorious  Sports  Persons;  (v) Pandit  Deendayal  Upadhyay  National  Sports  Welfare  Fund;  (vi)  National Sports Development Fund; and (vii) Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India.

Details  of  the  above  schemes  are  available  in  the  public  domain  on  the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  232  academies  have  been  accredited  for training athletes identified under the Khelo India Scheme. Additionally, 106 Khelo  India  Centres  and  24  Khelo  India  State  Centre  of  Excellence  have also been notified to impart training to talented sportspersons. Further, SAI has  established  23  National  Centres  of  Excellence  and  66  SAI  Training Centres wherein talented sportspersons are being imparted training in 27 sports disciplines on residential and non-residential basis.

Under  the  'Utilisation  and  creation/upgradation  of  sports  infrastructure' vertical of the Khelo India Scheme, this Ministry has sanctioned ₹ 1714.00 crore  to  various  State/UT  governments  and  other  eligible  entities  for creation/upgradation of basic sports infrastructure since 2016-17. Further, under the erstwhile Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme also this Ministry has sanctioned ₹ 342.89 crore to various State/UT governments and other eligible  entities  for  creation/upgradation  of  basic  sports  infrastructure during 2010-11 to 2015-16.

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