Lok Sabha Question No. 602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Rural Sports talent
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.602

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2021

## Rural Sports talent

## 602. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  the  sports ecosystems to bring in rural sports talent in the mainstream of sports to fulfill the aim to bring India in top 10 by the 2028 Olympics;
- (b) if so, the steps taken/to be taken on the said proposal; and
- (c)  the  details  of  roadmap  and  the  steps  taken/to  be  taken  by  the Government towards the target of achievement for the 2028 Olympics?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI KIREN RIJIJU]

- (a) & (b): Sports  being  a  State  subject,  primary  responsibility  for promotion  and  development  of  sports  including  creation  of  training infrastructure for Olympic sports in rural areas is that of the respective State  /UT Governments. Central Government supplements the efforts of State/UT Governments  for  bridging the gaps  through various schemes of the Ministry e.g. Khelo India, Assistance to National Sports Federations, National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) etc.

The following schemes run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS)  provide  for  training  of  athletes,  including  those  from  rural areas and their participation in competitions across the country: -

-  Khelo India
-  Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs).
-  National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
-  Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
-  Enhancement of sports facilities in Jammu & Kashmir

Further, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports through Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following sports promotional schemes across the country to identify talented sports persons in the age group of 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at national and international competitions: -

-  National Centres of Excellence (NCOE)
-  SAI Training Centre (STC)
-  Extension Centre of STC
-  National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC)

SAI has established 23 NCOEs and 66 STCs to implement the above sports promotional schemes across the country. A total of 188 Centres including  NCOEs,  STCs,  Extension  Centres,  etc.  are  functional  for implementation of above sports promotional schemes of SAI. Presently, 9313 talented sports persons (5726 boys and 3587 girls) are being trained in 27 sports disciplines on residential and non-residential basis.

The  above  Schemes  promote  all  Olympic  sports  as  well  as  regional and  indigenous  sports  across  the  country  such  as  Football,  Hockey, Archery, Badminton, Wrestling, Boxing, Judo, Volleyball, Gatka, Taekwondo, Wushu, Mallakhamb, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi etc and strengthens  the  sports  ecosystem,  and  also  takes  care  of  nurturing rural sports talent.

- (c): Olympic Task Force (OTF) was set up in January, 2017 to prepare a  comprehensive  Action  Plan  for  effective  preparation  of  Indian sportspersons  in  the  next  three  Olympic  Games  2021-Tokyo,  2024Paris and 2028-Los Angeles.

In pursuance of recommendations of OTF, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports  has  launched  a  scheme  namely,  Target  Olympic  Podium Scheme  (TOPS)  to  identify  and  support  elite  athletes  who  have  the potential to achieve Olympic podium at Olympics to be held in 2021,

2024 and 2028. The existing Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) covers the junior and sub-junior athletes also. These young upcoming athletes categorised as Development Group under the TOPS are being groomed  for  Paris  2024  and  Los  Angles  2028  Olympics  Games. National  Sports  Development  Fund  (NSDF)  provides  Out  of  Pocket Allowance (OPA) to TOPS athletes selected in Core Group at the rate of ₹ 50,000 per month and to Development Group athletes at the rate of ₹ 25,000 per month. These athletes primarily come from rural areas. Identification  of  athletes  for  inclusion  in  Target  Olympic  Podium Scheme  (TOPS)  is  being  done  on  the  basis  of  recommendations  of Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) which is headed by Director General, SAI and  consists  of  Sports  experts  and  representatives  of  the  National Sports Federations (NSFs).

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