Lok Sabha Question No. 704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-07
Subject: Facilities to Para-Athletes
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 704 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2019

## Facilities to Para-Athletes

## 704.  SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

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

- (a) the details of steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide world class  facilities  to  para-athletes  to  train  them  for  various  International competitions  including  Asian  Games,  Commonwealth  Games  and  Olympic Games;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  set  up  facilities  for rehabilitation, fitness training and sports science for para-athletes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  para-athletes  are  given  assistance  under  Target  Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) or any other scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  details  of  measures  taken  by  the  Government to  make  the  existing stadiums, training centres and other sport facilities more accessible to the para-athletes?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.))

(a) to (c) Preparation  of  Indian  sportspersons  /  teams  for  international competitions  including  Asian  Games,  Commonwealth  Games  and  Olympic Games  is  an  ongoing  process.  This  Ministry  has  recognised  Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) as National Sports Federation (NSF) for promotion of  sports  among  para-athletes  and  grants  maximum  financial  assistance. Under  the  Scheme  of  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations,  financial assistance is provided to NSFs, including the PCI, for preparation of athletes.

The  funding  covers,  inter-alia,  expenditure  on  equipment,  state-of-the-art infrastructure, lodging, services of reputed Indian and Foreign Coaches/supporting staff, scientific & medical support, training abroad and participation in international competitions in India and abroad. Further, Paraathletes are also given assistance under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme  for  their  customized  training  within  the  country  and  abroad.  In addition, athletes included in TOPS are given out of pocket allowance at the rate of Rs. 50,000 per month. The Khelo India Scheme being implemented by this Ministry also has a vertical, namely, Promotion of Sports among persons with disabilities' for targeted support to sportspersons with disabilities. Sports Science/ Medicine Centres have been established in the Regional Centres and Academic Institutions under Sports Authority of India (SAI).  List  of  such  centres  is  in  Annexure -I.  Further,  the  Government provides  financial  assistance  to  different  institutions  for  establishment  of sports science/medicine department. The list of institutions, who have been selected for financial assistance for the purpose is in Annexure -II.  These centres will cater to the needs of all athletes, including para athletes. (d) Sports is a State subject and development  of sports, including developing infrastructural support to sportspersons, is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments.  Accordingly, making  existing stadiums, training centres and other sport facilities more accessible to the para-athletes is the responsibility of owners of the facilities under different statutes of the Government. As regards facilities of the different institutions under the aegis of this Ministry is concerned, they are being made disabled friendly. The  Government  has,  however,  identified  the  Netaji  Subhas  Western Centre, Gandhinagar of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and developed it as the main  centre  for  holding  sports  activities  pertaining  to  differently-abled athletes.

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## ANNEXURE- I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 704.  FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2019 ASKED BY SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL REGARDI NG 'FACILITIES TO PARA -ATHLETES'

1. SAI Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala
2. SAI, Netaji Subhash Engineering College, Kolkata
3. SAI Netaji Subhash Southern Centre, Bengaluru
4. SAI Headquarters, New Delhi
5. SAI Netaji Subhash Western Centre, Gandhi Nagar
6. Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Thiruvananthapuram.
7. SAI Central Center, Bhopal
8. SAI Regional Centre, Lucknow
9. SAI, Northern Center, Sonepat
10. SAI, Netaji Subhas North Eastern Centre, Imphal
11. SAI, Netaji Subhas North-East Regional Centre, Guwahati

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 704.  FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2019 ASKED BY SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL REGARDI NG 'FACILITIES TO PARA -ATHLETES'

## List of Universities/Institutions selected for funding to support sports science/medicine department

1. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
2. Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior
3. National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
4. Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu
5. Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, Rajasthan
6. University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal
7. King George Medical University, Lucknow
8. Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
9. Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana
10. Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka
11. Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal
12. B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune