Question : Sports Infrastructure

a) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for promotion of sports, creation and maintenance of sports infrastructure, upgradation and renovation of existing sports facilities across the country including Maharashtra and West Bengal;
(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized for the purpose along with the details of sports infrastructure created during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra and West Bengal;
(c) the details of the target set and achievements made in this regard during the said period;
(d) the percentage of funding from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) prescribed for use in this field;
(e) whether the funds from CSR are being used for sports activities in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the achievements made under this fund, State/UT-wise including West Bengal; and
(f) whether the Government has signed any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some countries to promote and strengthen existing friendly relations and cooperation in the field of youth and sports affairs and if so, the details and outcome thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
{COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}
(a) to (c) ‘Sports’ is a State subject and promotion of sports, creation and maintenance of Sports infrastructure, upgradation and renovation of existing sports facilities across the country including Maharashtra and West Bengal is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. The Central Government complements / supplements the efforts of the States in this regard.
This Ministry has been implementing various sports promotional schemes for establishment of sports infrastructure in the entire country including the States of Maharashtra and West Bengal. However, no target is set in this regard as the schemes are demand driven / need based. Further a special Package for J&K of Rs.200 crore has been implemented by this Ministry under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP). One of the purposes of the package is enhancement of sports infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir.
Project-wise details of funds sanctioned during the last three years and the current year State/UT-wise including Maharashtra and West Bengal is given at Annexure. Fresh funds are released only after settlement of the Utilisation Certificate (UC) of funds released earlier.
(d) & (e) No percentage has been prescribed for spending of CSR funds exclusively on sports. Spending of funds by Corporates from the funds allocated under CSR activities is decided by the companies in terms of the Companies Act, 2013 for the activities specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013. As per the Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, funds from CSR are to be utilized for sports activities in the country such as ‘Training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, Paralympics sports and Olympic sports’.
The Ministry does not maintain data about spending of the funds from CSR by companies on sports.
(f) Yes, Madam. Government has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with several countries to promote and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation in the field of youth affairs and
sports. Under the provisions of these MoUs, cultural exchange programmes between many countries involving the youth are undertaken at regular intervals. These MoUs have led to enhanced co-operation in field of sports by way of implementation of several initiatives such as bilateral visits, skill development etc.
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