Lok Sabha Question No. 2294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Universal access to Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2294

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Universal access to Sports

2294.  MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) whether there exists a scheme to promote universal access to sports for youth in rural areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether athletes from rural areas are provided financial support under the scheme to access training facilities such as Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a transparent, uniform selection process for athletes to join such training centres to ensure fair and equal access;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  KISCEs and  similar  sports facilities run by the Government in Uttar Pradesh, district-wise; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  propose  to  set  up  more  KISCEs  in  Uttar Pradesh  due  to  size  of  the  State  and  number  of  potential  athletes  who would require financial support and training and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## { DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA}

- (a)  'Sports'  being  a  State  subject,  the  responsibility  of  development  of sports,  including  to  promote  sports  for  youth  in  rural  areas,  providing financial  support  to  access  training  facilities  and  transparent,  uniform selection  of  athletes,  rests  primarily  with  the  State/UT  Governments.  The Union Government supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps. The Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  implements  the  following  schemes  for development of sports, including for talented children and youth from rural areas, across the country:

(i) Scheme of '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) Sports Training  Centres through Sports Authority of India.

Details  of  the  above  schemes  are  available  in  the  public  domain  on  the websites of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is also implementing the following sports promotional schemes across the country to identify talented sportspersons in various age groups and nurture them to excel at national and international levels:-

I. National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) II. SAI Training Centre (STC) III. Extension Centre of STC

- IV. National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC)
2. (b) The Khelo India program provides comprehensive support to athletes, including scholarships, specialised training and coaching facilities, exposure to international competitions, and access to world-class training facilities,  which  entail  funding  of  ₹6.28  lakhs  per  annum  per  Khelo  India Athlete (includes ₹10,000 per month out-of-pocket allowance for each KIA).

(c) and (d)  Yes, Sir. The identification process for a Khelo India Athlete is based on specific guidelines and benchmarks by Talent Identification and Development Committee (TIDC) comprising of Olympians, prominent athletes,  coaches  of  a  particular  sport.  The  details  of  84  Khelo  India Centres  (KIC),  01  Khelo  India  State  Centre  of  Excellence  (KISCE)  and  13 Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAA) in the State of Uttar Pradesh are available on Khelo India dashboard at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/khelo-india-center-dashboard.

- (e) No, Sir. No such proposal is under consideration in this Ministry.

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