(a) whether the Government has any plan to give financial assistance to youths from rural, tribal and hilly areas to encourage them to participate in sports and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the Government is contemplating to build sports infrastructure including small stadium in rural, tribal and hilly areas in the country and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is not implementing any scheme specifically aimed at giving financial assistance to youths from rural, tribal and hilly areas to encourage them to participate in sports. However, the Ministry does provide grants for conducting annual sports competitions to encourage mass participation of people in sports, including youths from rural, tribal and hilly areas.
(b) Sports is a State Subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments to build sports infrastructure including small stadium in rural, tribal and hilly areas in the country. The Central Government complements/supplements the efforts of the State Governments in this regard.
*****