Lok Sabha Question No. 3846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Financial Assistance to IOA & SOA
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3846

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22-12-2015

Financial Assistance to IOA & SOA

3846. SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  provides  any  financial  assistance  to  the  Indian Olympic Association (IOA) including the State Olympic Association (SOA) and if so, the details of funds provided during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the details of utilization of funds by the IOA under various heads during the said period; and
- (c)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  prioritize  sports,  particularly Olympic sporting events through enhanced funding in the 12th Plan period?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b): The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports provides grants to Indian Olympic Association  (IOA)  for  expenditure  incurred  on  air  passage,  accommodation, ceremonial kit, playing kit, etc. towards participation of the Indian contingent in International multi-sports multi-nationals sports events such as Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games etc. The Ministry does not provide funds directly to State Olympic Associations. Details of funds provided by the Ministry to IOA during the last three years and the current years are as following:

| Financial Year               | Grant released (amount in Rupees)   |
|------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 2012-13                      | 2,28,48,524.00                      |
| 2013-14                      | Nil                                 |
| 2014-15                      | 16,93,44,359.00                     |
| 2015-16 (till on 16-12-2015) | 89,19,986.00                        |

While releasing the grants, it is clearly mentioned to IOA that grants are to be utilized for the purpose for which they are being sanctioned and in accordance with the provisions of the General Financial Rules and other extant instructions of the Government. 2 nd  installment of grant is released only after submission of audited statement  of  Accounts,  certified  by  a  chartered  accountant  and  utilization certificates.

(c):  The  Ministry  has  reviewed  the  categorization  of  sports  disciplines  on  23 rd March 2015. A new category of 'high priority' has been created while retaining earlier three categories viz. 'priority', 'general' and 'others'. In the 'high priority' category, the sports disciplines played in the Olympic Games and in which India have won medals in last conducted Asian Games and Commonwealth Games or in which India has good chance of winning medals in Olympics have been included. At present, nine (9) sports disciplines viz., athletics, archery, badminton, boxing, hockey, shooting, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling have been included. Focused attention is to be provided to 'high category' disciplines.

****