Lok Sabha Question No. 710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Sports in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 710

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd  July, 2018

## Sports  in  Schools

## †710. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT´ be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  special  policy  and action plan have been formulated  by  the Government  to  promote  the  traditional sports like wrestling (Indian Kushti) and Kabaddi;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether desired results have been achieved therefrom;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  till  date  to  include  Kabaddi competition in Olympic games?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) to (d): Sports' is a State subject. The primary responsibility for development of  the  sports  disciplines,  including  the  traditional  sports  rests  with  the  State Governments and the concerned Sports Federations. The Central Government only supplements their efforts by providing financial assistance as per the provisions of the  'Scheme  of  Assistance  to  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs),  namely, organizing  national/international  events  in  India,  participation  of  Indian  Teams  in international  events  abroad,  coaching/training  of  national  teams,  engagement  of foreign coaches, equipment support, etc.

With a view to giving due importance to sports having regional spread, the Government grants recognition to sports federations of indigenous sports disciplines as  Regional  Sports  Federations  (RSFs).  The  Central  Government  has  so  far granted  recognition  to  Indian  Kalarippayattu  Federation  and  Sqay  Federation  of India as RSFs.

To  promote  traditional/domestic  and  indigenous  sports,  Government  has given  recognition  to  various  NSFs,  namely,  Indian  Amateur  Kabaddi  Federation, Kho-Kho  Federation  of  India,  Tug-of-War  Federation  of  India  and  AtyaPatya Federation of India. The Central Government provides assistance to the identified sportspersons/teams  of  the  above  NSFs  for  intensive  coaching  through  national coaching camps, foreign exposures / competitions, etc. for achieving excellence at international level .

The National Curriculum Framework, 2005 has already realized the importance  of  this  area  and  recommended  Health  and  Physical  education  as  a compulsory  subject  area  upto  secondary  stage  for  all  children.  Age  appropriate activities related to Health, Physical Education and Yoga are included in the syllabi of  Health  and  Physical  Education  developed  by  NCERT.  Local  games  of  Indian origin and of Self- defence like Martial Art, Judo/ Karate, games of different parts of India such as Lathi, Kalapati and locally popular games like Kho-Kho, Kabaddi have been included at various stages.

In addition, the Central Government has launched an integrated scheme, for school education named as Samagra Shiksha w.e.f  2018-19, under this scheme there is a provision for encouragement of Sports, Physical activities, Yoga, arts & crafts, co-curricular activities etc. For meeting the expenditure on procuring sports equipments for indoor and outdoor, Sports grants upto Rs.5,000/- for primary, upto Rs.  10,000/-  for  upper  primary  and  upto  Rs.25,000/-  for  secondary  and  senior secondary schools are admissible.

Also, the Central Board of Secondary Education organizes competitions in 24 disciplines at Cluster, Zone and National levels for independent schools affiliated to it.  Kabbadi  is  one  of  the  23  categories  for  these  competitions.    21,560  students participated in Kabbadi events organized at various level under Inter School Sports and Games Competitions in the year 2017-18.

(e): Inclusion  of  any  sports  discipline  in  the  Olympic  Games  is  decided  by  the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Central Government has no role in the matter.

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