Lok Sabha Question No. 1401 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-03
Subject: Scheme for Poor Talented Players
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1401 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.05.2016

Scheme for Poor Talented Players

1401. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

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

- (a) whether the Government has various schemes to encourage sports in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  there  is  any  scheme  for  identifying  poor  talented players; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the number of players identified from rural and tribal areas, State/UT-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## ANSWER FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a).    Following  major  schemes  are  being  implemented  by  the Department  of  Sports  for  the  development  of  sports  in  the country:
- (i) 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.
- National  Sports  Development  Fund  (NSDF)  for  various activities  including  giving  assistance  to  elite  athletes, who are medal prospects for their customized and tailor-
- (ii) made training and competition exposure.
- (iii) 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  and  conduct  of seminars in India, etc.
- (iv) Scheme of Special Cash Awards for Winners of medals in international sports events and their coaches.
- (v) 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.
- (vi) 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.
- (vii) National  Welfare  Fund  for  Sportspersons  for  providing lump  sum  financial  assistance  to  sportspersons  now living in indigent conditions for their medical treatment etc.
- (viii) 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.
- (ix) A new scheme, known as Khelo India - National Program for Development of Sports, which comprises of 3 major components, namely Annual Competitions, Talent Search

and Sports Infrastructure, is being launched during 201617.

Following schemes are being implemented by Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous body under administrative control of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, for talent identification and nurturing  of  identified  talented  sportspersons  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  areaspecific  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.
- (b) & (c): All schemes of the Department of Sports and the Sports Authority of India aiming at identification of talented sportspersons are equally applicable to poor talented sportspersons.

Comprehensive  data  relating  to  number  of  talented  players identified from rural and tribal areas is not maintained.

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