Question : Review of Sports Policies

(a) whether the Government proposes to review the extant sports policies and if so, the details and the objectives thereof;
(b) whether the revised policy is likely to focus on development of sports infrastructure and promotion of sports under rural and urban areas separately and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to introduce a new scheme for promotion of sports among the children in schools and colleges and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government proposes to grant special status to differently-abled sportspersons and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government for promotion of sports among them and the details of funds allocated/released for the purpose during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to provide pension to former sportspersons and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) & (b) No Madam. The existing National Sports Policy, 2001 is both comprehensive & holistic and aims to achieve the goals of mass participation in sports and promotion of excellence in sports. The various schemes of the department are tailored for achieving of the aforesaid two objectives including development of sports infrastructure and promotion of sports in rural and urban areas.
(c) A Scheme called “Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports” is being implemented by this Ministry as a Central Sector Scheme from the current financial year 2016-17. The Scheme provides for holding of annual sports competitions in two age groups of (i) under 14 and (ii) under 17 all over India to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in Sports in both urban and rural areas and identification of talented sportspersons through competitions and creation of sports infrastructure facilities. The talented players identified at district level competitions onward will be eligible for grant of scholarships for a period of 12 months. This is expected to give a fillip to school sports.
(d) Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports treats Differently-abled sportspersons at par with the abled sportspersons and provides with all requisite facilities besides their special needs. Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), All India Sports Council of the Deaf (AISCD) and Specially Olympic Bharat (SOB) are the National Sports federations recognised by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and are primarily responsible for development of sports among the differently-abled. The Ministry supplements their efforts by providing financial assistance under the Scheme of Financial Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for preparation of Indian sportspersons and teams for participation in International
competitions. All the three aforesaid bodies have placed in “priority” category for allocation of funds under the said scheme.
There is another scheme in the department named “promotion of sports and games for the disabled”. Presently under this scheme, mainly sports competitions are organised among the differently-abled sportspersons.
Budgetary allocation and expenditure under the said two schemes during last 3 years and the current year is as follows Budgetary allocation is not state / UT Wise :-
Scheme of Assistance to NSFs *
Budgetary allocation
Expenditure / Release
2013-14
170 Crores
175 Crores
2014-15
185 Crores
183.93 Crores
2015-16
350 Crores
350 Crores
2016-17 ( as on 29.11.16 )
399.85 Crores
215.55 Crores
Scheme promotion of sports among disabled
2013-14
7 Crores
7 Crores
2014-15
4 Crores
3.26 Crores
2015-16
2.10 Crores
2.08 Crores
2016-17 ( as on 29.11.16 )
4 Crores
2.42 Crores
* Financial assistance is provided to various National Sports Federations under the said scheme including those meant for promoting sports among differentially – abled.
Besides cash awards and pension is also given by Department of Sports to meritorious differentially abled sportspersons.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has informed that during 2015-16, an amount of Rs. 2.52 crore was sanctioned by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) for creation of barrier-free environment at five Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres in Kolkata, Bengaluru, Patiala, Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education(LNCPE) Trivandrum and Gandhinagar under the Scheme for Implementation
of Persons with Disability Act, 1995 (SIPDA) and 1.26 crore has been released as 1st instalment (50%) to SAI.
(e) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provides pension to those meritorious sportspersons who have retired from active sports career and have won gold, silver and bronze medals in Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Paralympic games and World Cup/World Championships in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines and under the scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons.
******