Question : Promotion of Sports

a) whether any scheme is being implemented by the Union Government for the promotion of sports and also to provide financial assistance to the sportspersons, if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise;

(b) whether the Union Government proposes to bring any special scheme particularly for North-Eastern States as the people of those areas have inclination towards sports and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any proposal has been received from the Government of Assam regarding promotion of sports, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the schemes being implemented for BTC areas along with the names of such areas where the Union Government proposes to construct new stadiums; and

(e) the names of places where stadiums are being constructed during the last three years for promotion of sports and the funds being spent on each stadium, State-wise?

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

(a): Following schemes are being implemented by the Government for the promotion of sports and also to provide financial assistance to the sportspersons:

(i) Khelo India; (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii) Special Awards to Winners in International sports events and their Coaches; (iv) National Sports Awards; (v) Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons; (vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Sports Welfare Fund; (vii) National Sports Development Fund; and (viii) running sports training centres through Sports Authority of India. Details of these schemes are in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and Sports Authority of India. Financial Assistance to athletes is given in the form of training and participation in competition at Sports Authority of India facilities and through concerned National Sports Federations. Financial assistance is given to past high performers who are in indigent circumstances directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the details of which are given at Annexure-I.

(b): All schemes of the Department of Sports are equally applicable to all parts of the country without any discrimination to specific areas. There is no proposal to bring any special sports scheme for North Eastern States. In the North-Eastern States, the Department of Sports is running National Sports University in Manipur (Imphal) and Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education in Assam (Guwahati).

(c): Proposal for development of sports infrastructure in Guwahati has been received from the Government of Assam. In-principle approval for central assistance of Rs. 14.50 crore has been accorded.

(d): Department of Sports does not run any scheme to construct new stadium. However, under the existing BTC areas of Assam, SAI has established a SAI Training Centre at Kokrajhar where 136 Boys & 150 Girls were trained in the discipline of Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Football, Hockey, Judo, Kabbadi, Karate, Taekwondo & Wushu in 2018-19.

(e): The Department of Sports does not have any scheme to construct stadium. During the last three years no new stadium was constructed by the Department of Sports.
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