Lok Sabha Question No. 267 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-22
Subject: Promotion of Indigenous Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Nishikant  Dubey, Keshari Devi Patel

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *267 ANSWERED ON 22.03.2022

Promotion of Indigenous Sports

## *267. DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

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

- (a)  whether  a  number  of  indigenous  sports  are  being  played  in  different States as per their culture and tradition and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote 'indigenous sports' in the country including Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to conduct special training programme for the development and promotion of traditional sports;
- (d) if so, whether any review/evaluation has been done for development of sports at the grassroot level and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh including Prayagraj district;
- (e)  the  details  of  places  where  traditional  sports  competitions  are  being organized in the country;
- (f)  the  sports  competitions  which  are  being  proposed  to  be  organized  at Pancyat/District/State level to develop sportmanship in the country, State/UT-wise; and
- (g) the details of the financial and training assistance being provided by the Government in such events?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (g) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *267 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22/03/2022 REGARDING  ' PROMOTION  OF  INDIGENOUS  SPORTS '  ASKED  BY DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY  AND  SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI  PATEL , HON'BLE MEMBERS OF LOK SABHA

(a) There are a number of indigenous sports being played in different States as  per  their  culture  and  tradition. 'Sports'  being  a  State  subject,  the responsibility  to  promote  indigenous  sports  in  the  country  and  conduct special training programmes for the development and promotion of traditional  sports  rests  primarily  with  the  respective  State/Union  Territory Governments.  The  Union  Government  supplements  their  efforts.  As  such, the  details  of  the  various  indigenous  sports  being  played  in  different States/UTs of the country are not maintained in this Ministry.

- (b) This Ministry runs a Central Sector Scheme, namely, the 'Khelo India National  Programme  for  Development  of  Sports'  Scheme (Khelo  India Scheme), of which one of the Component s, namely, 'Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games', is specifically  dedicated to the development and promotion  of  rural  and  indigenous/tribal  games  in  the  country.  Indigenous games  of  Mallakhamb,  Kalaripayattu,  Gatka,  Thang-Ta,  Yogasana  and Silambam have been identified for promotion under this Component. Grants are sanctioned for infrastructure development, equipment support, appointment  of  coaches,  training  of  coaches  and  scholarships  under  this Component.  Further,  scholarship  to  283  medal  winners  of  Mallakhamb, Kalaripayyattu,  Gatka  and  ThangTa  (₹  10,000/ -  per  month,  per  athlete), including  6  from  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  have  been  provided  by  this Ministry.  In  addition,  Mallakhamb,  Kalaripayyattu,  Gatka,  Thang-Ta  and Yogasana have also been included in the forthcoming third edition of Khelo India Youth Games at Panchkula, Haryana.

In addition, this Ministry has also made documentaries of various indigenous games in order to showcase and promote/revive them, namely, Gatka, Roll Ball, Tug of War, Kalaripayattu, Thang-Ta, Kho-Kho, Mallakhamb, Shooting Ball, Sqay, Kabaddi, Gilli Danda, Sikkim Archery, Dhoop Khel and Cowrie Khel, Paika Akhada and Chhau and Akhada Kushti, Hekko, Mizoram Games,  Silabam,  Lagori and Langadi.  The  documentaries  have  been uploaded  on  the  digital  repository  of  the  Ek  Bharat  Shreshtha  Bharat website, Facebook page of the Fit India Movement, Youtube channel of Fit India Movement and Youtube channel of MyGov India.

(c)  This  Ministry  implements  various  Sports  Promotional  Schemes  across the country through the Sports Authority of India (SAI), viz. National Centres of Excellence (NCOE), SAI Training Centre (STC), Extension Centre of STC,

National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) - (with its sub-schemes for Regular Schools,  Indigenous  Games  &  Martial  Arts  (IGMA)  School  &  Akharas), whereby  services  of  expert  coaches,  sports  equipment,  boarding  and lodging,  sports  kit,  competition  exposure,  educational  expenses,  medical/ insurance and stipend as per the approved scheme norms are provided. The disciplines in these schemes include traditional Indian games, like Kabaddi, Archery, Wrestling, Kho-Kho, etc. Additionally, with a view to promote other traditional sports, SAI also provides support for training as well as financial in Silambam, Kalaripayatu, Mallakhamb, Khomlainai, Gatka, Mukna, ThangTa,  Kabaddi,  etc.  under  the  aegis  of  Indigenous  Games  &  Martial  Arts (IGMA)  School,  a  sub-scheme  of  National  Sports  Talent  Contest  (NSTC) scheme.

- (d)  Under  the 'Talent  Identification  and  Development' Component  of  the Khelo India  Scheme, talent search  is  organised  at  the  grassroots  level  in two categories:-
- Sports potential talent identification
- Proven talent identification

The  country  has  been  divided  into  05  zones,  namely  North,  East,  West, South,  and  North-East  Zones  to  carry  out  talent  identification.  Grassroot Zonal Talent Identification Committees are formed to reach out to each and every corner of the country to shortlist the potential and proven athletes.

Further, under the National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) scheme, talented children  are  selected  in  the  age  group  of  8-14  years  and  they  are  trained through  a  well-structured  system  in  the  SAI  Centres. The  performance  of the  trainees  in  the  battery  of  tests  and  achievements  at  the  time  of induction  is  clearly  documented.  The  scouting  of  the  talent  in  indigenous games  is  done  on  the  basis  of  open  competitions  among  participants. Selection is done by a selection committee consisting of representatives of SAI,  NSFs,  SAI  coaches,  guru/mentor  of  the  concerned  game,  etc.  The sports  persons  identified  on  this  basis  are  offered  admission  after  age verification, medical examination, etc.

(e) and (f) Traditional sports competitions are organised across the country at  regular  intervals  by  the  respective  sports  federations  and  the  State/UT Governments. As such, the State/UT-wise details of places where traditional sports competitions are being organized in the country are not maintained in  the  Ministry.  However,  under  the  sports  component  of  the  Ek  Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme of the Government, this Ministry conducted 36 EBSB  Championship  events  at  19  venues  across  the  country  through  the concerned  National  Sports  Federations  in  2019-20.  Approximately, 2250 sportspersons  participated  in  these  events.  Since,  the  outbreak  of  the

Covid-19 pandemic in the country, these competitions were temporarily put on hold during the last 2 years. These events have recently been restarted this year with two competitions (for both boys and girls) being held in sqay (on digital platform) and in shooting-ball at Ghaziabad.

(g)  This  Ministry  provides  financial  and  training  assistance  through  its various  schemes  as  mentioned  above  in  the  form  of  services  of  expert coaches,  sports  equipment,  boarding  and  lodging,  sports  kit,  competition exposure, educational expenses, medical/ insurance and stipend as per the approved scheme norms. A total of 283 athletes have been identified in the disciplines  of  Mallakhamb,  Thang-Ta,  Kalaripayattu  and  Gatka  who  are being  provided  Out-of-Pocket  Allowance (₹  10,000/ -  per  month)  under  the 'Promotion  of  rural  and  indigenous/tribal  games' Component of the Khelo India Scheme. Further, four National Sports Federations (NSFs) have been provided financial assistance under the above Component as per the details tabulated  below.  State-wise  data  is  not  maintained  in  this  regard  in  this Ministry.

| S. No.   | Name of the Federation (NSF)      | Funds Released (in ₹ crore)   | Funds Released (in ₹ crore)   | Funds Released (in ₹ crore)   | Funds Released (in ₹ crore)   |
|----------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|          |                                   | 2018-19                       | 2019-20                       | 2020-21                       | 2021-22 (up to 28.02.2022)    |
| 1        | Mallakhamb Federation of India    | -                             | 2.34                          | 1.79                          | 0.11                          |
| 2        | Indian Kalaripayyattu Association | -                             | 0.61                          | 0.21                          | 0.50                          |
| 3        | National Gatka Association        | -                             | 0.27                          | 0.36                          | 0.26                          |
| 4        | Thang-Ta Federation of India      | -                             | 0.48                          | 0.30                          | 0.23                          |
|          | Total                             | -                             | 3.70                          | 2.66                          | 1.10                          |

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