Lok Sabha Question No. 1601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Scholarships for Tribals in Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1601 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2023

Scholarships for Tribals in Sports

1601. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is providing any scholarships to tribals aimed towards achieving excellence in the field of sports and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  such  scholarships  to tribal further inclusion and development in the field of sports, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has provided any training facilities, modern sporting equipment and infrastructure to the tribals of Odisha, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to open centres of excellence in the various sport-centric districts of Odisha, such as Kandhamal; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof including the time by which it is likely to be achieved and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

- (a) & (b): Under the component 'Promotion of Rural/Indigenous & Tribal Games' of the Khelo India Scheme of the Government, talented athletes are  provided  sports  scholarship  in  the  form  of  financial  assistance  of ₹10,000/- per month as Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA). At present, 2752 athletes are supported under this component of the Khelo India Scheme.

Besides, under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), scholarship in terms of OPA is also provided to TOPS athletes at the rate of ₹50,000/- per month for Core Groups athletes and ₹25,000/- per month for Development Group athletes. At present, 119 athletes in Core Group and 166 athletes in Development Group are supported under the TOPS. Further,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  majority  of  the  sportspersons identified  under  Sports  Promotional  Schemes belong to rural, backward and tribal population of the country. Moreover, talent is identified based on merit and potential irrespective of Social/Economic status. (c): The selected athletes are provided financial and technical support in the form of expert coaches, sports equipment, boarding and lodging, sports kit, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical/ insurance and stipend as per the approved scheme norms. Further,  the  talent  identified  under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme  (including tribals  of  Odisha)  are  given  option  to  join  the  accredited  Khelo  India Academies  and  provided  financial  assistance  of  ₹6.28  lakh  per  annum (including ₹1.20 Lakh as Scholarship/OPA). At present, 70 athletes from the State of Odisha have been notified as Khelo India Athletes. (d) & (e): Presently, one (01) National Centre of Excellence (NCoE), three (03)  SAI  Training  Centres  (STCs),  two  (02)  Extension  Centres,  one  (01) Regular School and one (01) Akhara are operational in the State of Odisha. Moreover, six (06) Khelo India Centres (KIC), one (01) Khelo India State Centre  of  Excellence  (KISCE)  and  eight  (08)  Khelo  India  Accredited Academies (KIAA) have been notified in the State of Odisha on the basis of proposals received from the State Government. However, no such proposal has been received from the State of Odisha.

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