(a) whether the Government provides incentives and financial assistance to sportspersons for participating in the National and International sports events;
(b) if so, the details thereof during each of the last three years and the current year along with the number of sportspersons benefited therefrom, State/UT-wise; and
(c) the other measures taken by the Government to promote sports in the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.29 FOR REPLY ON 08.07.2014 BY SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SPORTSPERSONS
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b) Sports’ is a State subject. The primary responsibility for the development and promotion of a sport discipline rests with the concerned Sports Federation and the State Govts. Government of India only supplements the efforts of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) by providing financial assistance for participation of sportspersons/teams in international sports events abroad, training/coaching of sportspersons/teams through Indian and foreign coaches, procurement of equipment and consumables etc. as per agreed Long Term Development Plans. To facilitate participation of sportspersons, financial assistance @ Rs. 2.00 lac is given to the NSFs of ‘priority’ & ‘general’ category sports disciplines for holding national championships in Sub-junior, Junior and Senior categories. For ‘others’ category sports disciplines, such assistance is given for holding National Championships in Junior and Senior categories. Financial assistance is also given @ Rs. 1.00 lac for holding zonal championships in all the categories of sports disciplines. For holding international events in India, for senior category athletes, Rs. 10.00 lac is given to the NSFs of ‘priority’ category sports disciplines for mandatory events such as World Cup, World / Commonwealth / Asian Championships and Rs. 6.00 lac for holding other international events. 90% of the financial assistance given to the NSFs for holding Zonal, National and International events is to be spent towards boarding / lodging and transportation of athletes @ Rs. 1,000/ per day per athlete in ‘A’ Class cities and Rs. 700/- per day per athlete in other cities. In respect of the events held abroad, financial assistance is given for priority & general category sports disciplines which include cost of air travel including, medical insurance, local transportation etc. Further, boarding / lodging is also given to the athletes of these disciplines at the following rates:-
(i) When Boarding & Lodging is provided by the Organizers free of cost : 25% of DA as per Govt. of India (GOI) rates.
(ii) When the organizers make arrangements for boarding and lodging on payment: Rates indicated for twin share accommodation in the brochure issued by organizers for lodging and 25% of DA as per GOI rates.
(iii) When NSF makes its own arrangement: Ceiling of 75 USD per person per day for lodging and DA as per GOI guidelines.
The Government has recognised Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society and Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society also as NSFs for promotion of football and hockey respectively among school children. Financial assistance, at par with the NSFs, is given to these Societies for organising National Championships at the School level. The details of financial assistance provided to the NSFs during the last three years & current year is given in the Annexure. State-wise allocation is not made under the Scheme.
(c) Govt. is implementing a number of other schemes for promoting sports in the country. Under Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, integrated sports complexes, each costing Rs.1.76 crores, will be constructed in all rural block panchayats in the country and sports competitions will be conducted to identify sports talent. Under Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), assistance from Rs. 4.5 crore to 6 crore is provided for laying of synthetic athletic track and synthetic hockey field and construction of multipurpose hall. Under National Sports Development Fund, assistance is given to outstanding athletes for customised training abroad. There are also schemes for promotion of sports among persons with disabilities, human resource development in sports, pension to meritorious sportspersons, welfare fund for sportspersons, national sports awards and cash awards. Sports Authority of India also runs promotional schemes in which training by experienced coaches with scientific back-up is provided to players to achieve excellence at national/international level.