(a) the ranking of the Indian Hockey Team (Men) in the World Hockey ranking as compared to other top Hockey Teams;
(b) the reasons for the poor ranking of the Indian Hockey Team;
(c) whether the Government has any proposal for promotion of Hockey and to create awareness about sports among the youth in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) Madam, the ranking of the Indian Hockey Team (Men) as per the International Hockey Federation’s Men’s World Ranking for 2014 is 9th in the World, which is behind Australia, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England, New Zealand, Argentina and Korea.
(b) The reasons for such ranking of Indian Hockey team included change of playing surface and frequent changes in rules suited to the European style of hockey which have resulted in change from artistic and skill-based hockey to physical and speed-based hockey.
(c) & (d) The primary responsibility for development and promotion of sport disciplines including hockey rests with the concerned National Sports Federation (NSF) and the State Governments. Government of India supplements the efforts of the NSFs by providing financial assistance for various activities such as holding of coaching camps for national level sportspersons, holding of zonal and national championships for sub-junior, junior and senior categories, organizing International tournaments in India, training and participation of sportspersons/teams in international tournaments abroad, procurement of sports and sports science equipment and consumables, engagement of foreign coaches/experts to train the athletes, etc. as per agreed Long Term Development Plans. Government has recognized Hockey India as the NSF responsible for promotion and development of the sport of hockey in the country. The Government has also recognised Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society as NSF for promotion of hockey among school children. Financial assistance, at par with the NSFs, is given to the Society for organising National Championships at the School level. Rs.3642.39 lakhs was spent on hockey from the Central Government budget during the last three years, i.e., from 2011-12 to 2013-14. State-wise allocations are not made.
Further, identification and nurturing of the identified talent from various disciplines including hockey is done under the following Schemes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) :
National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme
Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) Scheme
SAI Training Center (STC) Scheme
Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme
Centre of Excellence (CoE) Scheme
The Government also provides assistance to the States under the Scheme of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), {earlier called Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA)}, a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme and Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS). Under RGKA, assistance of Rs.1.75 crore each will be provided for construction of a Sports Complex in every rural block of the country to cater to various sports disciplines including Hockey. The Scheme of USIS provides for giving grants, inter-alia, for creation of sports infrastructure projects such as hockey turf/football turf/multi- purpose halls/athletic tracks, etc. Under the scheme, State Governments, local civic bodies, Schools, Colleges, Universities and Sports Control Boards are eligible for appropriate assistance.