Question : OPENING OF SPORTS ACADEMIES

(a) whether the Government has decided to open Sports Academies for training young sports persons in the country with the help of private organisations/companies;

(b) if so, the details in this regard;

(c) the amount earmarked for development of sports related activities in the said Academies;

(d) the total funds released by the Government to these organisations/ companies so far;

(e) whether the Government has ensured the availability of the required facilities in these Academies;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the number of such Academies proposed to be opened by the Government during the current year?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)

(a) to (g) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 328 FOR 17.08.2005 REGARDING OPENING OF SPORTS ACADEMIES ASKED BY SHRI SURENDRA PRAKASH GOYAL AND PROF. MAHADEORAO SHIWANKAR

(a) to (b): Government of India has introduced a Scheme of State Sports Academy for implementation during the Tenth Five Year Plan period. The main objective of the Scheme is to select the best available talent in sports between the age group of 10-13 years, as well as, the top performers in State/National competitions in the age group of 10-18 years and to prepare and groom them over the years for winning medals for the country at the international level.

The Scheme envisages setting up of State Sports Academy with joint funding by the Central Government, State Government/UT Administration and a Sponsor as a co-operative venture. The financial assistance to the Academy in respect of capital, non-recurring costs with an upper cap of Rs. 8.30 crore is to be shared between the Sponsor, the Central Government and the State Government in the ratio of 51:25:24. In addition, recurring cost upto Rs. 17 lakh per annum or 25% of actual expenditure, which ever is less, is payable for a period of three years by the Government of India.

(c) to (g): The total outlay for 10th Five Year Plan for the Centrally Sponsored Scheme `State Sports Academy` is Rs. 93.24 crore. In 2003-04 and 2004-05, budget provision was Rs. 7.00 crore each. The amount allocated for this Scheme in the Budget Estimate (B.E.) for 2005-06 is Rs. 5.00 Crore. During the 2003-04 and 2004-05, no funds could be released for want of viable proposals. Funds released during the remaining period of the 10th Five Year Plan will depend on receipt of viable proposals from State Governments.