(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government for promotion of sports in the country;
(b) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to State Governments for promotion of sports in States and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the fund demanded and allotted for promotion of sports in last two years, State/UT-wise; and
(d) whether the funds have been utilised properly in the last two years and if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(SHRI VIJAY GOEL)
(a) Sports is a State subject and, therefore, promotion of Sports is primarily the responsibility of the State Government. The Central Government complements/supplements the efforts of the State Governments. To this end, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is implementing the “Khelo India – National Programme for development of Sports” Scheme from the current financial year 2016-17. The Scheme provides for holding of annual sports competitions, sports talent identification and creation of sports infrastructure. The Department of Sports in also implementation the following schemes for promotion of Sports in the Country:
? Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);
? National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) including the NSDF Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme;
? Scheme of Human Resource Development in Sports;
? Scheme of Special Cash Awards;
? Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons Scheme of National Sports Awards;
? National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons;
? Scheme of Sports & Games for Persons with Disabilities;
In addition, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous body under the aegis of the Ministry, is also implementing a number of schemes for promotion of sports in the country as given below :
a. National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC);
b. Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC);
c. Special Area Games (SAG);
d. SAI Training Centres (STC);
e. Extension Centres of STC/SAG;
f. Centres of Excellence (COX).
(b) The Ministry has issued the operational guidelines for the “Khelo India” Scheme to State/UT Governments on 26.05.2016 for implementation of the Scheme in all States/UTs. The Government has also issued the National Sports Policy, 2001 with twin objectives of “Broad-basing of Sports’’ and “Achieving Excellence in Sports” at the national and international levels.
(c) & (d) State/UT-wise allocation of funds are not made under the above Schemes. However, the erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) and Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) Schemes aimed at promotion of sports in the States/UTs. The details of allocation funds and actual expenditure under the schemes during the last two years are given in Annexure I. The funds allocated at RE Stage have been optimally utilized.
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