Lok Sabha Question No. 376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Promotion of Sports in Tribal Areas
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 376 ANSWERED ON 19.07.2022

Promotion of Sports in Tribal Areas

376.  SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) the details of the schemes being implemented to promote sports in tribal areas of the country;
- (b)  whether any special project is being implemented for tribal dominated areas  of  the  country  including  Odisha  so  as  to  enable  tribal  children  to showcase their talent in traditional sports and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  number  of  tribal  youth  from  the  State  of  Odisha  who  have participated in the Tribal Youth Exchange Programmes; and
- (d)  the  number  of  participants  who  have  received  employment  as  a consequence of their involvement in the programme along with the details of the skill development activities carried out under the said programme?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR }

- (a) and (b) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility to promote and develop sports in the country, including tribal areas to enable tribal children to  showcase  their  talent  in  traditional  sports,  rests  primarily  with  the respective State/Union  Territory  Governments.  The  Union  Government supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports implements the following schemes for development of sports in the country, including the tribal areas across the country:
- (i) Khelo IndiaNational Programme  for Development of Sports; (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii) Special Awards to Winners in  International  Sports  Events  and  their  Coaches;  (iv)  National  Sports Awards;  (v)  Pension  to  Meritorious  Sportspersons;  (vi)  Pandit  Deendayal

Upadhyay National Sports Welfare Fund; (vii) National Sports Development Fund; and (viii) Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India.

Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.

Further,  one  of  the  verticals  of  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  namely, 'Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games', is specifically dedicated to encouraging and showcasing of traditional sports of the country.

Also, Department  of Youth Affairs through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) conduct programmes for Promotion of Sports to develop sports  culture  among  rural  youth  in  623  Districts  across  the  country, including tribal areas. It has two components, namely,

- (i) Providing  Sports  kits  to  Youth  Clubs-  Under  this  programme,  sports kits are provided to selected NYK Youth Clubs so that they may undertake sports activities on regular basis.
- (ii) Organization of Block and District Level Sports Meets-  NYKS organizes Sports Tournaments at Block & District Level among Youth Clubs.
- NYKS is implementing Tribal Youth Exchange Programme in collaboration with Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Division of Ministry of Home Affairs.  The  programme  aims  to  sensitize  LWE  tribal  youth  to  the  rich cultural heritage of the country, enable them to appreciate the concept of unity in diversity, expose them to development activities and technological/ industrial advancement  in other parts of the country, develop their personality  by  enhancing  their  understanding  of  the  needs  and  providing them necessary career counselling.

During  Tribal  Youth  Exchange  Programme,  traditional  games  and sports is also showcased.

- (c) and (d)  A  total  number  of  357  tribal  youth  participated  in  Tribal  Youth Exchange  Programme  from  LWE  districts  of  Odisha  during  2021-22.  No direct employment is generated from Tribal Youth Exchange Programme.

****