Lok Sabha Question No. 1290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-28
Subject: Scheme for Identifying Sports Talents
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, RAVNEET SINGH, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1290

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2015

Scheme for Identifying Sports Talents

†1290. SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

(a) whether the Government is formulating special policy to develop sports infrastructure in the rural and tribal areas of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to identify sports talent from rural and tribal areas with the aim to win more medals in international events like olympics and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the camps have been organized in rural areas to identify such talent during the last four years; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the number of sports academics set up for the said areas, State/UT-wise?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) and (b)	   No Madam. The Government is not formulating any special policy to develop sports infrastructure in the rural and tribal areas of the country. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme named Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) [erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA)]. Under this Scheme, it is proposed to construct a sports complex in each block of the country, including rural and tribal areas, both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines.  The Scheme is based on the concept of convergence where funds from different schemes of the Government would converge to fund the block level sports complexes proposed to be constructed under this Scheme.

The Central Government is contemplating to revisit the RGKA Scheme as funds are not forthcoming from the converging Schemes, viz, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Backward Region Grants Fund (BRGF), the Additional Central Assistance for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (ACA for LWEAA), and the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources – Central (NLCPR-Central).

(c) to (e)	The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has formulated the National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) through which talented sportspersons will be identified and nurtured so as to enable them to participate in National and International Sports events, win medals and bring laurels to the country. The guidelines for implementation of the scheme have been issued to all States/UTs on 20.02.2015. The scheme will cover the entire country including rural and tribal areas and is proposed to be implemented from the current financial year. There is no provision for setting up of sports academies under the NSTSS.

In addition, every year, Sports Authority of India (SAI), in its SAI Training Centres (STCs) and Special Area Games (SAGs) Centres, have weeding out and enrolment programme. Apart from medal winners at State and National levels, who get direct entry, winners at District level and other talented athletes are allowed to compete in selection trial camps for identification and selection of trainees.

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