(a) whether the Government has constituted any council to promote sports at panchayat level, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(b) the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has not constituted any council to promote sports at panchayat level, as the primary responsibility for promotion of sports is that of State Governments ‘Sports’ being a State subject. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has constituted All India Council of Sports recently, which is an advisory body for the Ministry. One of the aims and objectives of the council is to advise the Ministry on increasing the outreach of sports to rural and tribal areas, areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), North East and Jammu & Kashmir.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) scheme of the Ministry envisages constructions of an integrated sports complex in every rural Block of the country. Competitions from Block level onwards are organized under the scheme.
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