(a) whether the Government proposes to take steps to revive and encourage hockey in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has taken note of the miserable condition of former/present hockey
players in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to improve economic
condition of hockey players and their families?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b): Madam, promotion and development of various disciplines of sports, including hockey,
is the primary responsibility of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the State Governments.
The Government only supplements the efforts of the NSFs by providing financial assistance under the
“Scheme of Assistance to NSFs†to the recognized NSFs for holding national/international sports events
in India, participation of sportspersons/teams in international sports events abroad, training/coaching
of national level sportspersons/teams through Indian and foreign coaches, procurement of equipment and
consumables etc. as per agreed Long Term Development Plans. In the last 5 years, the Government has
spent the following amount on promotion and development of hockey in the country:
(Rupees in lakhs) 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 (Upto February, 2013) 345.00 762.82 435.76 1809.00 429.08Apart from this, the Sports Authority of India is running the following schemes for promotion of sports including hockey in which training by experienced coaches with scientific back-up is provided to players to achieve excellence at national/international level.