Question : Development of Sports

(a) the details of the schemes of the Government for the development of sports in the country;
(b) the details of the structure and status of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Sports Colleges in India; (c) the number of sportspersons and coaches trained therein;
(d) the scheme for the development of traditional sports particularly in tribal and rural areas and the scheme formulated by the Government for the selection of sportspersons from rural areas and for their development;
(e) whether the Government is planning to set up any sports hostel in rural areas; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) ‘Sports’ being a State subject, development of sports is primarily the responsibility of State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments. Central Government supplements the efforts of State/ UT Governments for bridging sports infrastructure gaps in States and support through the following schemes across the country: (i) Khelo India, (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations, (iii) National Sports Development Fund, (iv) Special Awards to winners in International sports events and their coaches, (v) National Sports Awards, (vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons, (vii) Pension to
Meritorious Sports Persons, (viii) Running sports training centres through Sports Authority of India (SAI) under its various sports promotional schemes.

(b) & (c) The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports with its headquarters at New Delhi. It has been entrusted with twin objective of promoting sports and achieving sporting excellence at the national and international level. At present, there are 10 Regional Centres and 2 Academic Institutions under SAI. This Ministry does not run any Sports College. At present, a total of 12015 athletes are undergoing training in various training centres of SAI and 568 diploma students are pursuing various sports coaching courses in the two academic institutions. (d) The various sports promotional schemes run by this Ministry caters to the need of sportspersons across the country including from rural and tribal areas. Under the “Promotion of Rural and Indigenous/Tribal” vertical of the Khelo India scheme of this Ministry, Mallakhamb, Kalaripayyattu, Gatka and Thang-Ta have been recognized and being assisted.

(e) & (f) The Sports infrastructure facilities for athletes available with SAI & Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE) have sufficient capacity to cater to the training needs of large number of athletes, including from rural areas. Therefore, there is no proposal under consideration to set up sports hostel in rural areas.
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