Lok Sabha Question No. 2121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: To Develop Football in Kerala
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2121

TO BE ANSWRED ON - 05.08.2024

To Develop Football in Kerala

2121 DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a)  Whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  popularity  and significance  of  football  in  the  State  of  Kerala,  particularly  in  the district  of  Malappuram,  as  well  as  the  people's  passion  for  it  and produced many international players;
- (b) Whether the Government has any plans to ensure the development of football infrastructure in the Malappuram district in the State of Kerala under the Khelo India programme, aligns with international standards and aim to foster local talent and prepare them for national and international competitions; and

(c) If so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a):   The Government has recognized All India Football Federation (AIFF) as National Sports Federation for promotion and development of  Football  sports  in  the  country.  As  per  AIFF,  Malappuram  is emerging  as  Kerala's  leading  football  nursery,  with  more  than  a hundred football academies providing ample opportunities for young players  to  hone  their  skills.  Malappuram  is  also  emerging  as  a prominent host for football events in recent years. The 75th Edition of  Santosh  Trophy,  which  was  won  by  Kerala,  was  organized  in Malappuram District in 2022 where record number of attendance was seen.

(b) to (c): Sports, being a State subject, it is responsibility of State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations to take steps for  promotion  and  development  of  the  sports  in  their  respective States/UTs, including creation and enhancement of sports infrastructure, so that more and more sportspersons from their States and UTs achieve the levels of excellence to participate in international sports events including mega sports such as Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

To support the efforts of State Governments, Ministry of Youth Affairs and  Sports  through  Sports  Authority  of  India  is  implementing  the following Sports Promotional Schemes across the country to identify talented sportspersons in the various age groups and nurture them to excel at national and international levels:

-  National  Centres  of  Excellence  (NCOE),  Trivandrum  having  19 Football athletes under the Residential scheme.
-  SAI  Training  Centre  (STC),  Kollam  having  21  Football  athletes under the Non-Residential scheme.

Under the component 'Creation and Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure' of the Khelo India Scheme, 323 sports infrastructure projects,  including  06  projects  in  the  State  of  Kerala  have  been sanctioned across the country. Details are available at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in/.  Further,  01  Khelo  India  Centre  at District Malappuram in football discipline has been sanctioned under Khelo India Scheme.

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