Lok Sabha Question No. 5444 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-05
Subject: Promotion of Sports Culture
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: C. R. Patil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5444 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2022

## Promotion of Sports Culture

5444. SHRI C.R. PATIL:

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

- (a) whether  the Government  has  further strengthened  the steps for promoting of sports culture at the grass root level;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  initiated  steps  to  provide  the  quality coaching of global standards to sportspersons;
- (d) if so, details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the schemes for upgradation of sports infrastructure in the State of Gujarat during the last three years?

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

(a)  and  (b) 'Sports'  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  to  promote sports  culture  at  the  grass  root  level  rests  primarily  with  the  respective State/Union  Territory  Governments.  The  Union  Government  supplements their efforts. However, this Ministry runs a Central Sector Scheme, namely, the 'Khelo India National Programme for Development of Sports' Scheme (Khelo India Scheme). Under the 'Talent Search 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  Sports  Authority  of  India  (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, National Sports Federations (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.

(c)  and  (d)  In  order  to  provide  quality  coaching  of  global  standards  to sportspersons,  SAI  recruits  elite  and  medal-winning  sportspersons  as coaches.  Further,  as  a  part  of  the Government's  vision  to  strengthen  the sports  ecosystem  in  the  country  at  the  grassroots  level,  a  low-cost, effective sports training mechanism has been developed with past 'Champion Athletes' as Coaches and Ment ors for the trainees at the various Khelo  India  Centres  across  the  country  which  would  also  ensure  a sustained source of income for them.

(e) Under the ' Utilisation and creation/upgradation of sports infrastructure ' component  of  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  this  Ministry  has  sanctioned  two sports infrastructure projects, namely, ' Construction of Swimming Pool at Swarnim  Gujarat  Sports  University ' ,  Valavav,  District  Vadodara,  at  an amount of ₹ 5.00 crore and ' Construction of Sports Complex at Naranpura ' , District Ahmedabad , at an amount of ₹ 583.99 crore, in the State of Gujarat during the last three years.

****