Question : Support to Womens’ Football Team

a) the details of the support, whether financial or otherwise, that the Government has provided for the return of competitive women’s sports or for the maintenance of female athletes in the country since the imposition of the first lockdown month and state-wise;

b) whether the Government has given permissions or allowed for any women’s national team camps or competitive tournaments to take place during this period;

c) whether the Government has taken any specific measures to build sustainable structures in women’s football at the grassroots level;

d) If so, the details thereof;

e) If not the reasons therefor;

f) whether the Government has provided any support, financial or otherwise, to the women’s football team that was set to compete in the now postponed U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup; and

(g) if not, reasons therefor;

MINISTER FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) Government sanctioned funds for conduct of Coaching Camps and Foreign Exposures/Competition to the Indian Senior Women Team under the scheme for Financial Assistance to National Sports Federation(NSFs) for the year 2020-21, as per the details given below: -

(i) 03 National Camps amounting to ? 1,06,95,140/-.
(ii) 02 Foreign Exposures amounting to ? 1,25,92,286/-.

(b) By following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines for sports related activities in the COVID-19 environment, National team camps and competitive tournaments were organised by respective National Sports Federations (NSFs) in coordination with Sports Authority of India (SAI) during this period. This was an essential component of Olympic preparation and selection of athletes to represent the country for Tokyo Olympic 2020.

(c) to (e) Women athletes are trained in several disciplines included in its Sports Promotional Schemes such as National Centre of Excellence (NCOE), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Extension Centre of STC etc.

SAI Training Centre, Tinsukia and St. Teresa Girls Higher Secondary School, Darjeeling (Extension Centre of STC) have been exclusively designated for women players in football discipline.

The details of Women Football players benefited under SAI Schemes are provided at Annexure - I.

Further, under the vertical “Sports for Women” of the Khelo India Scheme, Under-17 Girls Football league took place in 2019-20 in 9 States/Union Territories viz., Punjab, Manipur, West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Mizoram and Karnataka where 140 teams participated and 414 matches were played.
(f) & (g) ? 14.17 crore was allotted for the preparation of Under-17 Indian FIFA Women’s World Cup Team.

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