Lok Sabha Question No. 327 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Sports Facilities in Rural/Remote/Tribal Areas
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Mani A

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *327 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

Sports Facilities in Rural/Remote/Tribal Areas

*327. Shri Mani A:

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

(a)  the  details  of  indigenous/traditional  sports  disciplines  that  have  been identified for promotion under the Khelo India Scheme;

(b) whether the Government has taken steps to enhance the sports facilities in  rural  and  remote  tribal  areas  dominated  by  SC/ST/OBCs  so  as  to encourage the talented youth of these areas and if so, the details thereof, State and district-wise;

(c)  the  details  of  future  plans  of  the  Government  to  identify  the  talent  of school students and to provide them suitable opportunities and training to participate at the international level; and

(d) whether the Government is preparing any plan for any dedicated sports facility in the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Tamil Nadu?

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

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *327 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025 REGARDING 'SPORTS FACILITIES IN RURAL/REMOTE/TRIBAL AREAS' ASKED BY SHRI MANI A , HON'BLE MEMBER OF LOK SABHA.

- (a) A total of  six  indigenous  games/disciplines,  namely,  Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu,  Gatka,  Thang-Ta,  Yogasana,  and  Silambam,  have  been identified for promotion under the 'Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal Games' sub-component of the Khelo India Scheme and have been made a part of the Khelo India Games.

(b) to (d ) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including enhancement of sports facilities in rural and remote tribal areas dominated by SC/ST/OBCs so as to encourage the talented youth of these areas, identification of talent of school students and to provide them suitable opportunities and training to participate at the international level and preparing any plan for any dedicated sports facility in the country, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government  only  supplements  their  efforts by bridging critical gaps. However,  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  (MYAS)  implements  the following  schemes  for  the  development  of  sports  across  the  country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu:

- (i) Khelo IndiaNational Programme  for Development of Sports; (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii) Special Awards to Winners in  International  Sports  Events  and  their  Coaches;  (iv)  National  Sports Awards;  (v)  Pension  to  Meritorious  Sportspersons;  (vi)  Pandit  Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons; (vii) National Sports Development  Fund;  and  (viii)  Running  Sports  Training  Centres  through Sports Authority of India.

Details  of  the  above  schemes  are  available  in  the  public  domain  on  the websites of this Ministry (https://yas.nic.in) and the Sports Authority of India (https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in).

The details of the sports infrastructure projects approved under Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, are available in public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html.

Further,  the  details  of  Khelo  India  Centres  (KICs)  notified  and  sports academies accredited under the Khelo India Scheme, across the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu, are available in public domain on the

dashboard of the Ministry at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/state-wisekhelo-india-centers.

Under the component, 'Sports Competition and Talent Development' of the Khelo  India  Scheme,  talented  sportspersons  nationwide,  including  in  the State of Tamil Nadu, are identified as a Khelo India Athlete (KIA). Selection of these athletes is based on their outstanding performance in events such as the Khelo India Games, National Championships, and through open and transparent  selection  trials  organized  by  the  relevant  National  Sports Federations and the School Games Federation of India. Selection of Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) is done on merit through set protocols by the Talent Identification Development Committee (TIDC). Further, Under the component  'Khelo  India  Centres  &  Sports  Academies'  of  Khelo  India Scheme, the identified talents are given option to join the accredited Khelo India academies and also provided financial assistance of Rs. 6.28 Lakh per annum [including Rs 1.20 Lakh as Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA)] towards training expenses, coaching, competitions exposure, education, equipment support, scientific support etc.

In  addition  to  above,  the  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy, Ministry  of  Education,  has  introduced  the  Samagra  Shiksha  scheme  to promote  holistic  development  in  children,  incorporating  sports,  physical activities,  yoga,  and  co-curricular  activities.  Under  this  scheme,  grants ranging  from  Rs.  5,000  to  Rs.  25,000  are  provided  to  government  schools annually for sports equipment, with an additional grant of up to Rs. 25,000 per school available, if at least two students win medals in the Khelo India National  School  Games.  In  line  with  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP) 2020  recommendations,  the  scheme's  sports  guidelines  were  revised  in August  2023  to  emphasize  on  daily  sports  activities,  indigenous  games, procurement of age-appropriate equipment, infrastructure development, and the  role  of  sports  committees  and  physical  education  teachers.  These updated guidelines have been shared with States and Union Territories.

The sports facilities developed and supported under sports schemes of this Ministry cater to all, including the State of Tamil Nadu.

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