Question : NATIONAL SPORTS TALENT CONTEST SCHEME



(a) whether the National Sports Talent Contest Scheme is mainly limited to urban areas;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor ;

(c) the number of talented sportspersons from rural areas selected to represent the country in international events during the last three years;

(d) whether the Sports Authority of India, in collaboration with the State Governments proposes to formulate any scheme for recruiting sports talent from rural areas; and

(e) if so, the details thereof ?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ AND YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)

(a) No, Sir. The main objective of the National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC) run by Sports Authority of India (SAI) is to broad - base sports at the grass- roots level and spot talented boys and girls from every part of the country. Under the NSTC Scheme, the following schemes are also covered under which talent is scouted and inducted from rural, semi-urban areas and the village level:

i)	Promotion of Indigenous Games and Martial Arts. 
ii) Extension of NSTC Schemes to Navodaya Vidyalayas.
iii) Promotion of Wrestling in the country.

(b) Does not arise.


(c) 97 sportspersons belonging to rural areas and trained by SAI in NSTC Schemes have represented our country in international events in the last three years.


(d) & (e): SAI has launched the SAI Training Centre (STC) and Special Area Games (SAG) extension centre scheme with the following objectives:

i) To make it possible for the Central Government and State Governments. to work together for sports development through integrated efforts.

ii) To correct existing regional imbalance in sports infrastructure in the country and within a state.
iii) To enable SAI to scientifically nurture Junior Sports Talent who have attained excellence at the Sub-junior Level under the NSTC Scheme on long-term basis.

iv) To provide a package assistance for sports infrastructure and to undertake various sports programmes in that area.

v) To ensure maximum utilization of facilities already existing/ to be created in a district to avoid a situation where sports infrastructure remains idle, and also ensure its proper maintenance and operations.

vi) To ensure equitable distribution of funds earmarked for various plan schemes of Govt. of India and SAI.

vii) To take the benefit of various plans schemes to the grass-roots level i.e. upto the block level.