Lok Sabha Question No. 1426 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-26
Subject: Para-Athletics under Khelo India Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: JAYSHREEBEN  PATEL

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1426 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2018

Para-Athletics under Khelo India Scheme

†1426. SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL:

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

- (a)  the  provisions  made  for  the  training  of  sportspersons  for  Paraathletics under Khelo India Scheme in the country;
- (b) the annual budgetary allocation made for the purpose;
- (c)  the  progress  made  by  India  in  the  Paralympic/Commonwealth
- Games; and
- (d)  the  other  measures  being  taken  to  encourage  and  promote sportspersons along with the future plans made in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

- (a) & (b) The Khelo India Scheme has a dedicated vertical, namely, 'Promotion  of  Sports  among  persons  with  disabilities'  for  supporting athletes  with  disabilities  including  sportspersons  for  Para-athletics. The  indicative  estimated  expenditure  for  this  vertical  for  the  years 2018-19 and 2019-20 is Rs.15 crore each year. The Salient features of the vertical are given in Annexure - I.

(c) In  the  Paralympic  Games  2016,  Indian  para  athletes  won  04 medals (02 Gold, 01 silver and 01 bronze).  India won 01 Bronze medal in power-lifting event in Commonwealth Games 2018. (d) Some of the major Schemes being implemented by this Ministry which  aim  at  encouraging  and  promoting  sportspersons  are  given  at Annexure - II. In  addition,  in  order  to  promote  sports  among  the  youth  (both male  and  female  sports  person)  across  the  country,  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  in  national  and international  competitions.  The  details  of  SAI  Schemes  are  given  at Annexure - III. For  promotion  of  sports  among  differently-abled  persons,  this Ministry  has  recognized  three  National  Sports  Federations  (NSFs) namely  All  India  Sports  Council  of  the  Deaf  (AISCD),  Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), and Special Olympic Bharat (SOB). Government  provides  support  to  the  differently-abled  athletes, through their respective NSFs, for participation in national championships  and  international  events.  All  the  three  NSFs  for  the differently-abled  athletes  have  been  placed  in  the  'Priority'  category so that they are eligible for  maximum financial assistance under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1426 FOR 26.07.2018 ASKED BY SHRIMATI  JAYSHREEBEN  PATEL,  MP,  REGARDING  PARA-ATHLETICS UNDER KHELO INDIA SCHEME

Annexure - I

## Relevant provisions of Khelo India vertical 'Promotion of Sports among persons with disabilities'

Financial  assistance  will  be  provided  to  States/UTs  and  SAI  for  creation  of specialist sports infrastructure for persons with disabilities. Funds required for making stadia disabled friendly / barrier free will be accessed from Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA) of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The  funds  provided  under  this  head  will  be  used  for  classification  of  players,  equipment, training and preparation of teams for Paralympic Games and disciplines and competitions.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. †1426 FOR 26.07.2018 ASKED BY SHRIMATI  JAYSHREEBEN  PATEL,  MP,  REGARDING  PARA-ATHLETICS UNDER KHELO INDIA SCHEME

Annexure - II

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.
- 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.
- 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.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. †1426 FOR 26.07.2018 ASKED BY SHRIMATI  JAYSHREEBEN  PATEL,  MP,  REGARDING  PARA-ATHLETICS UNDER KHELO INDIA SCHEME

Annexure - III

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 semi-urban 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 12-25 years .
-  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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