Lok Sabha Question No. 1161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Recognition to Sports Personalities
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

GOVERNMENT OF

MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1161

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2015

Recognition to Sports Personalities

1161.     SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

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

(a) whether the Government is giving due recognition to the sports personalities who do not belong to the mainstream and commercially supported the sports;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to promote these sports and bring more sponsorships for them;

(c) whether the Government proposes to honour to meritorious national and international level sportspersons;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the details of medals awarded to them during each of the last three years and the current year, sports discipline and State/UT-wise; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to encourage sports in the country?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b): 	In recognition and appreciation of achievements in the field of sports, the Ministry of Youth Affairs Sports confers Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards to the outstanding sportspersons belonging to disciplines included in Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Cricket, indigenous games and sports for physically challenged. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is given for encouraging and promoting involvement of corporate, voluntary organizations, etc. in promotion and development of sports.

The Ministry does not arrange sponsorships for any sports discipline.

(c) & (d): Scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards, Arjuna Awards, Dhyanchand Awards and Dronacharya Awards are already in existence under which outstanding sportspersons and coaches are honoured in recognition of their achievements and contributions in the field of sports.

Details of sportspersons conferred with these Awards during last three years and current year are given in Annexure.

(e) **The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is implementing following schemes for promotion and development of sports in the country:**

1. **“Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan” (RGKA),** a centrally sponsored scheme introduced in 2014-15 in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan, aims at construction of Integrated Sports Complexes in all block panchayats of the country in a phased manner and providing access to organized sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels.
2. **Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, introduced in 2010-11, e** nvisages development of playfields by the State Governments through Playfield Associations, coach development programme through Central and State Governments, creation of infrastructure including laying of artificial turfs for hockey, football and athletics, and construction of multi-purpose hall. Under the Scheme, State Governments, local civic bodies, schools, colleges, universities and sports control boards are eligible for assistance.
3. **Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs)** for conduct of National Championships at Senior, Junior, Sub-Junior level for men and women, conduct of international tournaments in India, participation of sportspersons in international sports competitions, organizing coaching camps, engagement of foreign coaches, and  procurement of sports equipments.
4. **National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)** for various activities including giving assistance to elite athletes, who are medal prospects for their customized and tailor-made training and competition exposure.
5. **Scheme of Human Resource Development in Sports** focusses on developing human resources in sports sciences and sports medicine for the overall development of sports and games in the country. The scheme also provides assistance to coaches and referees / judges to upgrade  knowledge / accreditation level and assistance for participation in and conduct of seminars in India, etc.
6. **Scheme of Special Cash Awards** for Winners of medals in international sports events and their coaches.
7. **Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons** after they retire from active sports career with the objective of providing them financial security and incentivizing sporting achievements.
8. **Scheme of National Sports Awards** , viz, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards, Dhyanchand Awards for honouring them for their achievements and contribution as sportspersons and coaches.
9. **National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons** for providing lump sum financial assistance to sportspersons now living in indigent conditions for their medical treatment etc.
10. **Scheme of Sports & Games for Persons with Disabilities** for broad-basing of sports among differently-abled sportspersons by way  of conduct of training for community coaches, conduct of sports competitions and providing assistance to schools/institutes having differently-abled sportspersons on their rolls for procurement of sports equipments and engagement of coaches on contract basis.
11. **National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS):** A new scheme, namely National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) has been formulated in February 2015 for talent identification in the age group of 8-12 years and nurturing of identified talented sportspersons. The objectives of the scheme are Identification of sporting talent among students in the age group of 8–12 years (for admission in Class IV to Class VI) who possess inborn qualities such as anthropometric, physical and physiological capabilities without any anatomical infirmities and nurturing of the Sporting Potential / talent in District level Sports schools / Central Sports Schools / National Sports Academies etc., to make them excel at the National and international sports competitions.

Following schemes are being implemented by Sports Authority of India, an autonomous body under administrative control of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, for development of sports:

**(a) National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC)** : The main objective of the scheme is to identify gifted and talented sportspersons among school children in the age group of 8-14 years.

**(b) Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC)** is implemented in collaboration with the   Army.  Children in the age group of 8-16 years are imparted scientific training to achieve excellence at national and international levels.  The scheme also provides job opportunities in the Indian Army.

**(c) Special Area Games (SAG)** : This Scheme follows an area-specific approach to scout and nurture talent for modern competitive games and sports from tribal, rural, coastal and hilly areas of the country.  The main objective of the scheme is to train talented and meritorious sportspersons in the age group of 12-18 years.

**(d) SAI Training Centres (STC)** : Under this scheme, talented youth in the age group of 12-18 years are given the option to join the scheme on residential or non-residential basis.

**(e) Centres of Excellence (COX)** : The main objective of this scheme is to identify and train outstanding sportspersons who are medal prospects for the country in international competitions.

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Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1161 to be answered on 28.07.2015 regarding ‘Recognition to Sports Personalities’ by SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA and SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

**Details of sportspersons and coaches conferred with sports awards during last three years and the current year**

**A:	Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna**

| **Sl. No.**   | **Name**                                                   | **Discipline**                                             |
|---------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| **2012**      |                                                            |                                                            |
| 1.            | Shri Vijay Kumar                                           | Shooting                                                   |
| 2.            | Shri Yogeshwar Dutt                                        | Wrestling                                                  |
| **2013**      |                                                            |                                                            |
| 1.            | Shri Ronjon Sodhi                                          | (Shooting)                                                 |
| **2014**      |                                                            |                                                            |
|               | No sportsperson was given Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2014. | No sportsperson was given Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2014. |

**B:	Arjuna Awards:**

| **Sl. No.**   | **Name**                   | **Discipline**          |
|---------------|----------------------------|-------------------------|
| **2012**      |                            |                         |
|               | Ms. Deepika Kumari         | Archery                 |
|               | Ms. Laishram Bombayla Devi | Archery                 |
|               | Ms. Sudha Singh            | Athletics               |
|               | Ms. Kavita Ramdas Raut     | Athletics               |
|               | Ms. Ashwani Ponnappa       | Badminton               |
|               | Mr. Parupalli Kashyap      | Badminton               |
|               | Mr. Aditya S. Mehta        | Billiards & Snooker     |
|               | Mr. Vikas Krishan          | Boxing                  |
|               | Mr. Yuvraj Singh           | Cricket                 |
|               | Mr. Sardar Singh           | Hockey                  |
|               | Mr. Yashpal Solanki        | Judo                    |
|               | Mr. Anup Kumar             | Kabaddi                 |
|               | Mr. Samir Suhag            | Polo                    |
|               | Ms. Annu Raj Singh         | Shooting                |
|               | Mr. Omkar Singh            | Shooting                |
|               | Mr. Joydeep Karmakar       | Shooting                |
|               | Ms. Deepika Pallikal       | Squash                  |
|               | Mr. Sandeep Sejwal         | Swimming                |
|               | Ms. Ng. Sonia Chanu        | Weightlifting           |
|               | Mr. Narsingh Yadav         | Wrestling               |
|               | Mr. Rajinder Kumar         | Wrestling               |
|               | Ms. Geeta Phogat           | Wrestling               |
|               | Mr. M. Bimoljit Singh      | Wushu                   |
|               | Mrs. Deepa Mallick         | Athletics – Paralympics |
|               | Mr. Ramkaran Singh         | Athletics – Paralympics |
| **2013**      |                            |                         |
| 1.            | Ms. Chekrovolu Swuro       | Archery                 |
| 2.            | Ms. P.V. Sindhu            | Badminton               |
| 3.            | Ms. Kavita Chahal          | Boxing                  |
| 4.            | Mr. Rupesh Shah            | Billiards & Snooker     |
| 5.            | Mr. Virat Kohli            | Cricket                 |
| 6.            | Mr. Abhijeet Gupta         | Chess                   |
| 7.            | Mr. Gagan Jeet Bhullar     | Golf                    |
| 8.            | Ms. Saba Anjum             | Hockey                  |
| 9.            | Ms. Rajkumari Rathore      | Shooting                |
| 10.           | Ms. Joshna Chinnappa       | Squash                  |
| 11.           | Ms. Mouma Das              | Table Tennis            |
| 12.           | Ms. Neha Rathi             | Wrestling               |
| 13.           | Mr. Dharmender Dalal       | Wrestling               |
| 14.           | Mr. Amit Kumar Saroha      | Athletics (Para)        |
| **2014**      |                            |                         |
| 1             | Mr. Abhishek Verma         | Archery                 |
| 2             | Ms. Tintu Luka             | Athletics               |
| 3             | Mr. H.N. Girisha           | Para-Athletics          |
| 4             | Mr. V. Diju                | Badminton               |
| 5             | Ms. Geetu Anna Jose        | Basketball              |
| 6             | Mr. Jai Bhagwan            | Boxing                  |
| 7             | Mr. R. Ashwin              | Cricket                 |
| 8             | Mr. Anirban Lahiri         | Golf                    |
| 9             | Ms. Mamta Pujari           | Kabaddi                 |
| 10            | Mr. Saji Thomas            | Rowing                  |
| 11            | Ms. Heena Sidhu            | Shooting                |
| 12            | Ms. Anaka Alankamony       | Squash                  |
| 13            | Mr. Tom Joseph             | Volleyball              |
| 14            | Ms. Renu Bala Chanu        | Weightlifting           |
| 15            | Mr. Sunil Kumar Rana       | Wrestling               |
| 16            | Mr. Manoj Kumar            | Boxing                  |

**C:	Dronacharya Awards:**

| **Sl. No.**   | **Name**                  | **Discipline**          |
|---------------|---------------------------|-------------------------|
| **2012**      |                           |                         |
| 1.            | Shri Virender Poonia      | Athletics               |
| 2.            | Ms. Sunil Dabas           | Kabaddi (Women)         |
| 3.            | Shri Yashvir Singh        | Wrestling               |
| 4.            | Shri J.S. Bhatia          | Athletics  - Life Time  |
| 5.            | Shri Bhawani Mukherjee    | Table Tennis –Life Time |
| **2013**      |                           |                         |
| 1.            | Ms. Poornima Mahato       | Archery                 |
| 2.            | Mr. Mahavir Singh         | Boxing                  |
| 3.            | Mr. Narender Singh Saini  | Hockey                  |
| 4.            | Mr. K.P. Thomas           | Athletics – Life Time   |
| 5.            | Mr. Raj Singh             | Wrestling – Life Time   |
| **2014**      |                           |                         |
| 1.            | Shri Mahabir Prasad       | Wrestling               |
| 2.            | Shri N. Lingappa          | Athletics – Lifetime    |
| 3.            | Shri G. Manoharan         | Boxing – Lifetime       |
| 4.            | Shri Gurcharan Singh Gogi | Judo – Lifetime         |
| 5.            | Shri Jose Jacob           | Rowing – Lifetime       |

**D: Dhyan Chand Awards:**

| **Sl. No.**   | **Name**                  | **Discipline**    |
|---------------|---------------------------|-------------------|
| **2012**      |                           |                   |
| 1.            | Shri Jagraj Singh Mann    | Athletics         |
| 2.            | Shri Gundeep Kumar        | Hockey            |
| 3.            | Shri Vinod Kumar          | Wrestling         |
| **2013**      |                           |                   |
| 1.            | Ms. Mary D’souza Sequeira | Athletics         |
| 2.            | Shri Syed Ali             | Hockey            |
| 3.            | Shri Anil Mann            | Wrestling         |
| **2014**      |                           |                   |
| 1.            | Shri Gurmail Singh        | Hockey            |
| 2.            | Shri K.P. Thakkar         | Swimming (Diving) |
| 3.            | Shri Zeeshan Ali          | Tennis            |

**Sports Awards for the year 2015 are yet to be decided.**

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