(a) the details of steps taken by the Government for increasing participation of the women including those belonging to Scheduled Castes in sports;
(b) whether any initiative has been taken by the Government for active participation of girls/women in national and international sporting events; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government for promoting girls/women through sports education?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) to (c): Schemes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of India aiming at mass participation in sports and promotion of excellence in sports are also applicable to women.
The Scheme of Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), introduced from 2008-09, which has since been revised as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) in 2014-15 provides an opportunity to girls to take part in sports in large numbers as the Scheme of RGKA operates from the grassroot level. The scheme aims at creation of integrated Sports Complexes in all block panchayats in the country in a phased manner as well as provides access to organized sports competitions at Block, District, State and National levels.
Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations, the NSFs are given financial assistance to conduct national championships for women also in various categories namely senior, junior and sub-junior. The assistance is primarily for the purpose of providing boarding and lodging, transportation etc to participants.
Further, the Scheme of National Championships for Women, which was started in 1975, aimed at promotion of sports amongst women. Under this Scheme national level competitions were preceded by holding of lower level competitions (District & State level) for which States/ UTs were provided financial assistance as per norms.
The Scheme of National Championship for Women has now been integrated with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) and assistance at following norms is being provided:
The scheme covers the following 12 sports disciplines divided into four groups for the purpose of conducting National Sports Festival for Women in the different States of the country with the collaboration of States Sports Councils:
Competition level Funding pattern District level Rs. 2.40 lakh per district @ Rs. 20,000/- per discipline for 12 disciplines. State/UT Level Rs. 1 lakh per district for State/ UT for 12 sports disciplines; National Level Rs. 10 lakh per discipline
There is no separate budget for women sportspersons, as schemes of the Ministry and Sports Authority of India are inclusive schemes and lay equal emphasis on promotion of sports among women.
Sl. No. Group-1 Group-II Group-III Group-IV
1. Basketball Handball Athletics Kho-Kho 2. Gymnastics Hockey Badminton Kabaddi 3. Swimming Tennis Table Tennis Volleyball