Lok Sabha Question No. 2546 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Promotion of Rural Sports in Andhra Pradesh under Khelo India Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2546

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

Promotion of Rural Sports in Andhra Pradesh under Khelo India Scheme

2546. Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  the  Government  schemes  and  the  amount  allocated  for Andhra Pradesh to encourage rural sports activities under the "Khelo India" programme during the last three years;
- (b) whether the Government is focusing on developing special facilities to encourage children/youth from rural areas of the country to participate in national/international tournaments and represent the country;
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  Andhra  Pradesh,  State  and  districtwise; and
- (d)  the  steps  that  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  sports infrastructure in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA }

(a) The 'Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports' of this Ministry aims at strengthening the entire sports ecosystem to promote the twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports across the country, including in the State of Andhra Pradesh. It focuses on broad-basing of sports among the youth and promotion of sports activities throughout the country, including rural areas. One of the sub-components of this Scheme, 'Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games' is specifically dedicated to promote rural sports activities. Funds are allocated Scheme-wise and not State-wise in this Ministry. Details of funds allocated under the Khelo India Scheme during the last three years are as under:

(in ₹ crore)

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Funds allocated |
|----------|------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | 2021-22          |               869 |
|        2 | 2022-23          |               600 |
|        3 | 2023-24          |               880 |

(b)  and  (c)  Sports'  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  to  develop special facilities to encourage children/youth from rural areas of the country rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements their efforts.

Under Khelo India Scheme, various initiatives have been undertaken with an aim to identification of talented athletes across country and nurturing them through  training  and  exposure  at  par  with  the  International  standards  in various  facilities  of  Sports  Authority  of  India  and  Khelo  India  Accredited academies. These athletes participate in Khelo India  Games  where benchmark  of  technical  conduct  is  of  International  standards.  Further, these  athletes  compete  with  National/International  athletes  at  various forum which enhances their capabilities and strengthen the bench strength of the country for future National/International events.

(d) Under the 'Creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure' component of  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  this  Ministry  renders  financial  support  for creation  of  basic  sports  infrastructure  such  as  sports  complex,  synthetic athletic  tracks,  synthetic  hockey  fields,  synthetic  turf  football  grounds, multipurpose  halls,  swimming  pools,  etc.  along  with  sports  equipment. Further,  under  National  Sports  Development  Funds  (NSDF),  Government supports various institutions and individuals for creation and upgradation of sports facilities across the country, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. The details  of  the  sports  infrastructure  sanctioned  under  Khelo  India  Scheme and  NSDF,  across  the  country,  are  available  in  public  domain  on  the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html.

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