Lok Sabha Question No. 1541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-26
Subject: Promotion of Sportswomen
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: HARI MANJHI, GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1541

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2018

Promotion of Sportswomen

†1541.

SHRI HARI MANJHI:

SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  women  from  various States particularly from North Eastern States (NES) have won laurels for the country in the field of sports;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented  by  the Government for encouraging and giving training in the field of sports to the women players from various States particularly NES;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  action  plan  for identifying  and  nurturing  the  sporting  talents  from  rural  areas  of various States particularly NES; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

- (a) Yes, Madam. Many women players including from North Eastern States have won  medals for the country in various sporting events.
- (b) Sports promotional Schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports cater to the entire population of the country,

both  male  and  female,  including  women  from  North  Eastern  States (NES). Some of the major Schemes being implemented by this Ministry which aim at broadbasing of sports and achieving excellence in sports are given at Annexure - I. In  addition,  in  order  to  promote  sports  among  the  youth  (both male  and  female  sports  person)  across  the  country,  including  the States  of  North  Eastern  India,  the  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI),  an autonomous organization under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and  Sports,  is  implementing  various  Sports  Promotional  Schemes  to identify  talented  sports  persons  in  the  age  group  of  8-25  years  and nurture them to excel at national and international competitions. The details of SAI Schemes are given at Annexure - II. (c) & (d) In  addition  to  the  existing  SAI  Schemes,  the  Khelo  India Scheme has a dedicated vertical of 'Talent Identification and Development'. This vertical applies to the entire country and caters to the entire populationincluding sporting talents from NES.The relevant provisions of the vertical isgiven at Annexure - III.

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  †1541  FOR  26.07.2018  ASKED  BY  SHRI HARI  MANJHI,  SHRI  G.M.  SIDDESHWARA  AND  SHRI  RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA, MPS, REGARDING PROMOTION OF SPORTSWOMEN

## Annexure - I

Sports promotional Schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

- i. Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports : This Scheme was formulated by the Ministry to infuse sports culture and achieve sporting excellence in the country by encouraging sports for all thus allowing the population across gender and all age groups to harness the power of sports through its cross-cutting influence, namely,  holistic  development  of  children  &  youth,  community  development,  social integration, gender equality, healthy lifestyle, national pride and economic opportunities related to sports development through its twelve verticals. While all the components of the Khelo India Scheme are gender neutral and afford opportunities to women  too  for  participating  in  sporting  activities  and  development  of  sports,  the scheme  has  a  dedicated  vertical  of  'Sports  for  Women'which  provides  for  annual national  competitions  for  women.  Emphasis  will  be  laid  on  such  sports  disciplines where  there  is  less  participation  of  women  so  that  more  number  of  women  will participate in such sports disciplines.
- ii. Scheme  for  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs) :  Under  this Scheme,  the  Government  provides  assistances  to  NSFs  for  conducting  National Championships and International tournaments in India, participation of national teams in  International  tournaments  in  India  and  abroad,  organizing  National  coaching camps,  procuring  sports  equipment,  engagement  of  foreign  coaches,  etc.    This Scheme applies to the entire country and caters to the entire population, both male and female, including women from NER.
- iii. National  Sports  Development  Fund(NSDF) :  This  Fund  was  established  by  the Central Government in 1998, under Charitable Endowments Act 1890, with a view to mobilizing  resources  from  the  Government  as  well  as  non-governmental  sources, including  the  private/corporate  sector  and  non-resident  Indians,  for  promotion  of sports  and  games  in  the  country.  Financial  assistance  is  provided  from  the  Fund  to outstanding sportspersons, Sports Federations and other organizations. Special stress is  being  given  to  support  the  sportspersons  who  have  been  selected  under  a programme namely, TOP (Target Olympic Podium) Scheme, specifically devised to train medal prospects for future Olympics. This Scheme applies to the entire country and  caters  to  the  entire  population,  both  male  and  female,  including  women  from NER.
- iv. Himalayan  Region  Games  (HRG) :Himalayan  Region  Games  are  being  planned which will include indigenous games of North Eastern States in addition to popular games.

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  †1541  FOR  26.07.2018  ASKED  BY  SHRI HARI  MANJHI,  SHRI  G.M.  SIDDESHWARA  AND  SHRI  RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA, MPS, REGARDING PROMOTION OF SPORTSWOMEN

## Annexure - II

Sports Promotional Schemes of SAI are given as under :

-  National  Sports  Talent  Contest  Scheme  (NSTC) :National  Sports  Talent  Contest, (NSTC) Scheme is being implemented to scout sports talent in the age group of 8-14 years from schools and nurture them into future medal hopes by providing scientific training.
- a. Indigenous Games & Martial Arts(Sub-Scheme of NSTC) : This scheme aims to promote indigenous games & martial arts in the schools in rural and semiurban  areas  and  scouting  of  talent  in  these  games  for  nurturing  in  modern sports.
- b. Adoption of Akharas under NSTC Scheme : Wrestling has been a traditional indigenous sport in the country and mostly played at village level. In order to create a broader base for modern wrestling, Akharas are being adopted under this Scheme.
-  Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) :This is a collaborative venture of SAI with the Indian Army, The main objective of the Scheme is to make use of the good infrastructure and disciplined environment of the Army for training boys in the age group of 8-14 years of age, to achieve excellence in sports. After attaining the required age of seventeen and a half years, the trainees are also offered placement in the Army.
-  SAI Training Centre (STC) : In order to groom the junior level sports persons in the age group of 12-18 years, SAI Training Centres (STC) are established in a State where the sports infrastructure is provided by the respective State Governments.
-  Special Area Games (SAG) : Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme aims at scouting natural talent  for  modern  competitive  sports  and  games  from  inaccessible  tribal,  rural  and  coastal areas  of  the  country  and  nurturing  them  scientifically  for  achieving  excellence  in  sports. Trainees in the age group of 10-18 years are selected in this scheme.
-  Extension Centre of STC/SAG : The extension centres of STC/SAG centres Scheme was started  to  cover  schools  and  colleges  for  wider  coverage,  with  a  view  to  develop  sports standards in schools and colleges having requisite basic sports infrastructure and had shown good  results  in  sports.  Trainees  in  the  age  group  of 10-18 years  are  selected  under  NonResidential basis for regular training.
-  Centre of Excellence (COE) :The scheme envisaged induction of sportspersons, who had performed  well  at  Sr.  National  Competitions,  for  further  advance  scientific  training  at  the Regional Centres of SAI. These Centres of Excellence operate as regular coaching camps for the  best  available  talent  in  India  in  the  respective  sports  discipline  in  the  age  group  of 1225years .
-  National  Sports  Academies  (NSA) :  The  National  Sports  Academies  (NSA)  Scheme aims to promote sports on single discipline basis in  collaboration with the National Sports Federations to attract sports talent in the respective sports discipline in the age group of 12-25 years .

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (c)& (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1541 FOR 26.07.2018 ASKED BY SHRI HARI MANJHI, SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA AND SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA, MPS, REGARDING PROMOTION OF SPORTSWOMEN

## Annexure - III

## Relevant provisions for 'Talent Identification and Development'under the Khelo India Scheme

The National competitions involving schools, colleges, Universities and NSFs under Khelo India Scheme, National Championships, and National Sports Talent Search Portal of SAI,  will  provide  a  platform  for  identification  of  talented  sports  persons  in  priority  Sports disciplines  in  which  the  country  has  potential/advantage.  In  addition  to  selection  of  prize winners,  the  duly  constituted  talent  identification  committee  may  also  adopt  globally accepted  scientific methods  to  spot  and  identify talent in various sports disciplines. Identification of sporting talent will involve conduct of pan-India trials of children by Talent Scouts (to be engaged for the purpose), in association with States/UTs.

Out  of  the  talented  players  identified  in  priority  sports  disciplines  at  various  levels through different avenues, best talents in those sports discipline will be identified by the High Powered Committee and provided annual financial assistance, at the rate of Rs.5.00 lakh per annum,  for  a  period  of  8  years  under  a  Long  Term  Athlete  Development  Programme. Continuation of support to an individual athlete will be subject to his/her progress/performance in the identified sports discipline concerned, ensuring the best performers, having potential to excel at the highest level, are given continuous support and non-performers/  non  achievers  can  be  taken  out  of  the  system.  This  will  ensure  a  sizable bench strength that the country is lacking at present.

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