Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: Performance in Athletics/Sports
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: SATYA PAL SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION No. 230 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

Performance in Athletics/Sports

†*230. SHRI SATYAPAL SINGH :

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

- (a)  whether the performance of the country in athletics/sports is not upto the mark in comparison to that of other countries;
- (b)  if  so,  the details of steps being taken to deal with the said situation;
- (c)  whether  schemes  have  been  prepared  to  encourage  and improve sports in the country but the results have not been so encouraging and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the corrective action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  230  FOR  ANSWER  ON 10.05.2016 REGARDING PERFORMANCE IN ATHLETICS / SPORTS ASKED BY SHRI SATYAPAL SINGH, HON'BLE MP

- (a) India has a large population but its achievements  in international  sports  are  not  commensurate  with  its  potential. There  is  immense  potential  for  developing  India  into  a  sports powerhouse. Not so impressive performance of India in international  sports  events  can  be  attributed  to  lack  of  bench strength, lack of sports culture, non-availability of basic sports infrastructure at grassroots level, lack of job opportunities etc. However, there has been perceptible improvement in the performance  of  Indian  sportspersons  in  international  sports events including  mega sports events such as Olympic Games, Asian  Games,  Commonwealth  Games  and  South  Asian  Games recently.
- (b) to (d): For broad-basing of sports and achieving excellence in sports with the aim of maximizing the country's medals prospects  in  international  sports  events,  the  Ministry  of  Youth Affairs & Sports is implementing following major schemes:
- (i)   Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for  conduct  of  National  Championships  at  Senior,  Junior,  SubJunior  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.
- (ii)  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.

(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.

- (iv)  Scheme  of  Special  Cash  Awards  for  Winners  of  medals  in international  sports  events  and  their  coaches  as  incentive  to achieve excellence in sports.
- (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 and conduct of sports competitions.

(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,  has  been  launched  for  implementation  during 2016-17.    Objectives  of  the  scheme  are  mass  participation  of youth in annual sports competitions through series of competitions at various levels, identification of talent, guidance and nurturing of the talent and creation of  Sports Infrastructure at mofussil, Tehsil, District, State levels, etc.

Sports Authority of India is implementing the following schemes  for  talent  identification  and  nurturing  of  identified talented  sportspersons  for  their  participation  in  national  and international tournaments:

- (a)  National  Sports  Talent  Contest  (NSTC):  NSTC  Scheme  is being implemented to scout sports talent in the age group of 814 years from schools and nurture them into future medal hopes by  providing  scientific  training.  Under  the  Scheme,  schools having good sports infrastructure and record of creditable sports performances  are  adopted  by  SAI.  The  Scheme  enables  the budding sportsperson to study and play in the same school. In addition to the main scheme of NSTC (launched 1985) wherein regular  schools  are  adopted,  a  few  distinct  sub-schemes  were launched to further reach out to sports talent in India, including those participating in indigenous sports and games.
- (b)  Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC): This is a collaborative venture of SAI with the Indian Army. The main objective of the Scheme is to make use of the good infrastructure and disciplined environment of the Army for training boys in the age group of 816 years of age, to achieve excellence in sports. After attaining the required age of seventeen and a half years, the trainees are also offered placement in the Army.
- (c) Special  Area  Games  (SAG):  Special  Area  Games  (SAG) Scheme aims at scouting natural talent for modern competitive sports  and  games  from  inaccessible  tribal,  rural  and  coastal areas of the country and nurturing them  scientifically for achieving  excellence  in  sports.  The  Scheme  also  envisages tapping  of  talent  from  indigenous  games  and  martial  arts  and also from regions/ communities, which are either genetically or geographically advantageous  for excellence in a particular

sports discipline.  The main objective of the Scheme is to train meritorious sports persons in the age group of 12-18 years, with age being relaxed in exceptional cases.

- (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.
- (f)   SAI  National  Sports  Academies:  Various  Sports  Academies are being set up by SAI, in collaboration with the National Sports Federations  to  attract  sports  talent  in  respective  discipline  in the age group of 12-25 years.  The Academy Scheme envisages modern training centres having good sports facilities, equipment,  requisite  sports  science  infrastructure  as  well  as qualified personnel to meet the daily requirement of the trainees. The  Sports  Academies  will  have  both  residential  and  nonresidential trainees.  Each Academy will function under tripartite agreement  under  PPP  mode,  wherein  the  roles  of  SAI,  the concerned federation and the sponsor shall be defined.  One of the major roles of the federations would be to provide valuable inputs  through  foreign  expertise  and  MOUs  with  international bodies  of  the  disciplines.    The  national  federations  will  also make  efforts  to  generate  revenue  through  sponsorships  or partnerships.

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