Lok Sabha Question No. 5317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-25
Subject: Status of Sporting Women
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5317

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2019

Status of Sporting Women

## 5317.     SHRI HIBI EDEN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken studies which show the link  between  status  of  sporting  women  and  the  status  of  women  in general and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  allocated  sufficient  funds  and amenities just the same as that of men's sporting activities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  plan  of  making sports  activities  compulsory  for  girls  in  schools  and  provide  ample opportunities to young adults to consider sports as a career option and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  sports  schemes  and  programmes  for  women formulated by the Government and currently in place along with the future agenda in this regard; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  propagated  special  schemes  to encourage women to participate in sporting  activities  and  campaign for  equal  pay  to  eliminate  gender  inequalities  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI KIREN RIJIJU]

- (a): No Sir, no such study has been undertaken by the Government.
- (b): Sports promotional schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) are gender neutral and cater to the entire  population  of  the  country,  including  both  male  and  female sportspersons. 'Sports for Women' vertical of Khelo India scheme aims at encouraging women sportspersons. Under this vertical support was extended by this Ministry for hosting International Boxing Association (AIBA)  Women's  World  Boxing  Championship  in  New  Delhi,  2018  by providing  financial  assistance  of  Rs.  3.00  crore.  The  elite  athletes being supported under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) includes  20  women.  Central  Government  has  established  3  Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centres exclusively for female athletes. Presently, 4,269 female athletes are being trained in 273 SAI Training Centres.
- (c): Education comes under the Concurrent List of the Constitution. With  majority  of  schools  falling  under  respective  State  Examination Boards, the school curriculum is largely determined by State Governments.  However,  as  per  the  National  Curriculum  Framework (NCF),  2005  Health  and  Physical  Education  is  a  compulsory  subject upto Xth Class and an optional subject at Higher Secondary Stage. At the  graduation  level,  it  is  for  the  students  to  exercise  the  options available in the Universities / Colleges as per their choices.
- (d) & (e): Women athletes have been constantly performing at International level and winning medals leading to increased participation  of  girl  athletes.  These  high  performing  women  athletes

are  being  supported  through  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs)  as well as Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme. Khelo India scheme has a  vertical  namely,  'Sports  for  Women'  dedicated  for  promotion  of sports  amongst  women.  Department  of  Sports  follows  equal  pay  for equal work under its schemes and does not discriminate on the basis of gender.

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