Question : FACILITIES TO HOCKEY PLAYERS

(a) whether it is a fact that the players in the men`s hockey team did not have proper shoes while playing the final of the Asian Champions trophy;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) the steps being taken by the Government to promote hockey and other sports besides cricket in the country;

(d) whether the hockey players have not been paid their remuneration, allowances, price money etc. for the last few years; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor and the remedial measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that such incidents do not take place in future?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS(SHRI JITENDRA SINGH )

(a) & (b)Madam, no such fact has been brought to the notice of the Government.

(c) The primary responsibility for the development and promotion of a sports disciplines rests with the concerned recognized National Sports Federation (NSF). Government only supplements the efforts of the NSFs by providing financial assistance for procurement of equipment and consumables, holding national/international sports events in India, participation of sportspersons/teams in international sports events abroad and training/coaching of national level sportspersons/teams through Indian and foreign coaches, as per agreed Long Term Development Plans (LTDPs) with the NSFs.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following Schemes for identification and nurturing of talented sportspersons including hockey players:

(i) National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme,

(ii) Army Boys’ Sports Companies (ABSC) Scheme,

(iii) SAI Training Centers (STC) Scheme,

(iv) Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme,

(v) Centres of Excellence (CoE) Scheme.
(d) There is no provision in the Scheme of Assistance to the NSFs, for payment of prize money, remuneration, allowances, etc. to players of any sports discipline for the national championships. For the international events, allowances for diet, supplements, sports kits, etc. are paid to the players through the respective NSF. No case of non-payment of remuneration, allowances, prize money etc. to the hockey players has been brought to the notice of the Government.

(e) Does not arise.