Lok Sabha Question No. 1422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Encourage Participation in Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2023

Encourage Participation in Sports

## 1422.   SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  encourage participation in sports in the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of funds allocated in this regard during the last three years and the current year;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any measures to ensure the inclusivity of women in sports; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## ANSWER [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

(a) to (e): 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports in the country rests primarily with the State/Union Territory governments. The Central government only supplements their efforts. However, this Ministry runs various schemes for the promotion of sports as well as for encouragement of sports participation across the country. These schemes include: (i) Khelo India- National 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 Sports Welfare

Scheme;  (vii)  National  Sports  Development  Fund;  and  (viii)  Running Sports  Training  Centres  through  Sports  Authority  of  India.  Details  of these schemes are available in the public domain on the website of the Ministry.

The details of the funds allocated to Department of Sports during last  three  (3)  years  and  current  year  for  various  activities  including sports promotions are given below:-

(₹ in crore)

| Year            | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2022-23   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   |
|-----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Funds Allocated | BE        | RE        | BE        | RE        | BE        | RE        | BE        |
|                 | 2100.42   | 1313.40   | 1906.14   | 1993.00   | 2254.00   | 1907.69   | 2462.59   |

Further,  under  the  Khelo  India  scheme,  there  is  a  dedicated  subcomponent  of  'Sports  for  women'  wherein  emphasis  is  laid  on  such sports disciplines where there is less participation of women. Under this initiative,  various  Khelo  India  Women's  League  -  are  being  conducted. Till now women leagues have been organised in 19 sports disciplines in 26 States/UTs. Total 479 competitions have been organized for Women athletes  with  total  52,086  participants.  This  initiative  has  significantly increased  women  participation  in  sports  across  the  nation  and  has provided ample opportunities to women athletes to compete, learn and grow in all age groups.

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