Lok Sabha Question No. 2194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Welfare of Athletes
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy

## Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2194

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Welfare of Athletes

2194.

Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to support the athletes for training and participation in sports competitions; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## ANSWER [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

- (a)  and  (b):  'Sports'  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  of promotion  and  development  of  sports,  including  providing  training facilities and resources to athletes and coaches, rests primarily with the respective State Governments. However, the Central Government (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports) supplements their efforts through its various schemes.

Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Government provides financial assistance to the recognized NSFs for preparation and participation of the Indian Athletes/Teams. However,  preparation  for  International  events  is  an  ongoing  and continuous process. Plans/Proposals of the NSFs relating to training, competitive exposure, Coaches and support personnel including foreign coaches, for preparing sportspersons/teams for the international sporting events are deliberated and finalized in the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) meetings.

Under  the  Target  Olympic  Podium  Scheme  (TOPS),  the  Government extends  all  requisite  support  to  probable  athletes  identified  for  the major  international  events,  including  foreign  training,  international competition, equipment, services of support staff/personnel like Physical Trainer, Sports Psychologist, Mental Trainer and Physiotherapist besides out of pocket allowance of ₹50,000/- per month to the Core Group athletes and ₹25,000/- per month to the Development Group athletes.

Under the Khelo India Scheme, national-level competitions, i.e., Khelo India Youth Games, held annually for athletes under 18, offering a largescale platform for young athletes and the Khelo India University Games, which focuses on enhancing sports performance among university-level athletes  are  held  for  high  priority/priority/other  sports  disciplines.  In addition, the Khelo India Winter Games, are organized for winter sports in regions like Jammu & Kashmir and Leh-Ladakh; and the Khelo India Para  Games  promotes  inclusiveness  by  creating  opportunities  for athletes  with  disabilities.  Through  these  events,  2,781  Khelo  India Athletes (KIAs) have been identified and supported across 21 sports disciplines, including para-sports. These athletes receive high-quality training in 301 accredited academies.

Besides, Sports Authority of India (SAI) implements following Sports Promotional Schemes across the country to identify talented sportspersons of 12 years onward and nurture them to excel at national and international levels -

- National Centres of Excellence (NCOE)
- SAI Training Centre (STC)
- ●
- Extension Centre of STC
- National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) (its Sub-Schemes - Regular Schools, & Adopted Akharas)

A total of 177 SAI Centres across the country including NCOEs and STCs, Extension Centres of STCs, NSTC schemes etc. are established for implementing Sports Promotional Schemes of SAI. Presently, 9416 athletes  (5664  Boys  &  3752  Girls)  are  being  trained  in  27  sports disciplines on residential and non-residential basis.

Under  the  SAI's  Sports  Promotional  Schemes,  the  provision  for competition exposure has been made as given below:

## (a) Domestic Competition:

- (i) ₹50000/- per athletes per annum for NCOE.
- (ii) ₹6000/- per athletes per annum for STC
- (iii) ₹8000/-  per  athletes  per  annum  for  athletes  of  STC  in  North Eastern States
- (iv) ₹20000/- per athletes per annum for athletes of STC in Island Territories.
- (v) ₹3000/- per athlete per annum for Extension Centres of STCs
- (vi) ₹2000/- per athlete per annum for Regular School of  NSTC
- (vii) ₹3000/- per athlete per annum for Adopted Akharas of NSTC
- (b) Foreign Competition/ Training Exposure:

Government  has  made  a  provision  of  ₹15.00  Crores  per  annum  for foreign competition /Training exposure  for  the  development  and deserving athletes of NCOE & STC.

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