Lok Sabha Question No. 417 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Sports Condition in India
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 417 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

Sports Condition in India

417.     SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY :

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

- (a) whether sports play an important role in generating the spirit of healthy competition and bonding within the community and if so, the steps taken to promote sports;
- (b) whether Indian population is one of the youngest population in the world  and  India  has  an  immense  potential  for  developing  into  a powerhouse of sports;
- (c)  whether  India  is  lagging  far  behind  the  other  countries  in achieving excellence in sports and if so, the reasons therefor along with  the  details  of  schemes/  programmes  formulated  to  promote sports;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  total  sum  of  money  spent  together  by  the Government of India and the State Governments per capita per day on sports; and
- (e) the details of measures taken to provide best training coaching, State-of-art equipment and better support services to the sportspersons?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a)      Sports  and  games  have  always  been  seen  as  an  integral component in the all-round development of the human personality. Apart  from  being  a  means  of  entertainment  and  physical  fitness, sports have played a great role in generation of the spirit of healthy

competition, team spirit, sense of discipline and bonding within the community.  Needless to mention that achievements in sports at the international level have always been a source of national pride and prestige. Schemes of the  Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Sports Authority of India  are aimed at promoting sports in the country by way of broad-basing of sports  and achieving excellence in sports. (b)  India has the largest youth population in the world  that is poised to increase further in the coming decade.  70% India's population is below the age of 35 years.   The demographic dividend  offers a great opportunity  for the country  to develop into a power house  of sports in the world. (c)  India has a large population but its achievements in international sports are not commensurate with its potential. There is immense potential  in  developing  India  into  a  spots  powerhouse.  Not  so impressive performance of India in international sports events can be attributed  to  lack  of  bench  strength,  lack  of  sports  culture,  nonavailability of basic sports infrastructure at grassroots level, lack of perceptible in international  sports  events  including  mega  sports  events  such  as Olympic  Games,  Asian  Games,  Commonwealth  Games  and  South job opportunities etc. However, there has been improvement in the performance of Indian sportspersons Asian Games recently.

(d)  The Ministry does not maintain data about the funds spent by the States on sports. As far as the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India is concerned, Rs. 1020.94 crore (Plan and NonPlan) were spent during 2015-16. Taking into account population of India  1,210,854,977  as  per  Census  2011,  then  per  capita  per  day expenditure on sports by  the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports works out Rs. 0.0231. (e) Coaching/training alongwith  state-of-art  equipment  is  being provided  to  sportspersons  under  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI)'s various Sports Promotional Schemes such as National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme, Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) Scheme, SAI  Training  Centres  (STC)  Scheme,  Special  Area  Games  (SAG) Scheme and Centres of Excellence (COE) Scheme. Further, assistance is being provided to National Sports Federations (NSFs) from the Ministry's Scheme of Assistance to NSFs  for  participation of Indian sportspersons  and teams  in international sports events, organizing coaching camps preparatory to participation in international  sports  events,    procurement  of  sports  equipmments, conduct of national championships and international tournaments in India. Further, a programme, namely TOP (Target Olympic Podium) Scheme has  been  formulated  in  March  2015  within  the  overall  ambit  of National  Sports  Development  Fund  (NSDF)  with  the  objective  of identifying  and  supporting  potential  medal  prospects  for  2016  and 2020 Olympic Games.    The selected athletes are being provided financial assistance for their customized training at Institutes having world class facilities and other necessary support.

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