Lok Sabha Question No. 410 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Participation of Specially Abled Youth in Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, C. R. Patil, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, P.P. Chaudhary

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 410

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2022

Participation of Specially Abled Youth in Sports

## 410.  DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK

NIMBALKAR: SHRI C.R. PATIL:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

SHRI BRIJBHUSHAN SHARAN SINGH:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

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

- ( a ) the  steps  currently  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to increase  international  participation  of  India  in  sports  for  specially abledyouth;
- ( b ) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures  to  enhance facilities  and  promote  participation  of  specially  abled  persons  in sports  competitions  at  the  international  level  including  Special Olympic Games;
- ( c )
- if so, the detailsthereof;
- ( d ) whether  the  Government  is  considering  the  need  to  build  new disabled-friendly sports stadiums or complexes to increase participation  of  specially  abled  youth  in  sports  and  to  encourage them in this field and if so, the details thereof; and
- ( e ) whether the Government has undertaken any measures to ensure equal  recognition  and  recruitment  opportunities  to  specially-  abled sportspersons from all States and if so, the detailsthereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

- ( a ) Government  provides  financial  assistance  to  the  Nationals Sports Federations of Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), All India Sports Council for Deaf (AISCD), Special Olympic Bharat (SOB) and Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI) towards trainingof specially abled  athletes for their participation in international events.  The  athletes  selected  for  international  competitions  are provided with all requisite facilities for their preparations including wholesome  nutritious  diet,  food  supplements,  equipment  support, state-of-the-art infrastructure, lodging, travelling facilities, services of reputed Indian and Foreign Coaches/supporting staff, scientific & medical  support,  sports  kit,  etc.  Under  Target  Olympic  Podium Scheme (TOPS), talented Athletes are being selected and provided Financial  Assistance  like  Out  of  Pocket  Allowances,  equipment support, coaches etc. Athletes are being retained in the TOPS based on the regular assessment of their performance. A total of 35 Para Athletes are being supported under TOPSScheme.
- ( b ) &(c) Yes. In addition to supporting the Special Athletes in their participation in the Special Olympic Games, the Government extends  support  in other international  games  as  well.  Sports Authority of India  has  opened  the  regional  sports  centres  of excellence  providing  superior  quality  sports  experiences  to  the youth with disabilities. A Special Olympics Bharat National Coaching Camp was held in Floorball at the SAI centre ofexcellence in Sonipat wherein the special athletes availed all the facilities for their sportstraining.
- ( d ) Yes, to promote sports among the differently abled sportspersons,  Sports  Authority  of  India  has  established  a  Para Centre under SAI's National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) Scheme at SAIRegionalCentre,Gandhinagar.Thecenterisoperationalinthe

disciplines of Athletics, Swimming, Powerlifting & Table Tennis. 46 para-athletes  are  undergoing  training  under  qualified  coaches.  All the  SAI  Stadiums  and  training  centres  have  been  made  disabledfriendly  and  up-gradation  of  the  same  is  carried  out  from  time  to time  to  ensure  comfort  of  differently-abled  athletes.  Under  the component  'Promotion  of  Inclusiveness  through  Sports'  of  Khelo India Scheme, sports infrastructure and training centers are created so as to ensure effective participation of persons with disabilities. Daulatabad stadium, Gurugram, has been assigned to carry out the Special  Olympics  sports  and  inclusive  activations  for  the  next  20 years. ( e ) Yes. Recruitment of meritorious sportspersons including specially-abled is done as per Government Guidelines. Further in the Sports Authority of India, 05 posts at Assistant Coach Grade and 08 posts  at  Coach  grade  are  reserved  for  Paralympians  for  regular appointments. Currently, 04 Assistant Coaches, 01 Coach, 02 Senior Coach and 01 Chief Coach in the category of Paralympian (Speciallyabled)  are  already  working  in  the  Sports  Authority  of  India.  More chances  are  given  to  the  recruitment  opportunities  of  speciallyabled sports persons in almost all States. Recently, Postal Department has recruited 06 Deaf Sports persons in Kerala and 06 in TamilNadu.

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