Lok Sabha Question No. 196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Improvement of Sports Infrastructure in Rural Areas of Kerala
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 196 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

Improvement of Sports Infrastructure in Rural Areas of Kerala

## 196. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  the  key  initiatives  the  Government  is  currently implementing to empower youth across the country, especially in Kerala;
- (b)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the infrastructure for sports in rural areas in Kerala; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  implement  new  scheme  for  the promotion of sports development programmes for differently-abled youth, if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) to (c) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of  sports,  including  development  of  sports  infrastructure  and  youth empowerment,  implementation  of  new  schemes  for  the  promotion  of sports development  programmes  for  differently-abled youth in the country, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. The Union  Government  supplements  their  efforts  by  bridging  critical  gaps. The  Ministry of Youth  Affairs &  Sports implements  the  following schemes  to  promote  sports  in  the  country,  including  in  the  State  of Kerala:
- (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  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 and of Sports Authority of India (SAI).

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 the State of  Kerala.  The  details  of  the  sports  infrastructure  sanctioned  under Khelo India Scheme and NSDF, across the country, including in the State of Kerala, are available in public domain on the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdfglance.html.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports implements various schemes to promote  youth  empowerment  in  the  country,  including  in  the  State  of Kerala  viz  (i)  Mera  Yuva  Bharat  (MY  Bharat);  (ii)  Nehru  Yuva  Kendra Sangathan (NYKS); (iii) National Service Scheme (NSS). Further details may be seen on https://yas.gov.in/youth-affairs.

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