Question : Financial Assistance to Sportspersons

(a) the proposals received from the sports persons/athletes for seeking financial assistance to procure equipment/sports training and the details of proposals cleared/ pending along with the reasons for their pendency and the time by which pending proposals are likely to be cleared during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT and sports discipline-wise;

(b) the funds sanctioned/released for the purpose during the said period, State/UT and sports discipline-wise;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that proposals received for seeking funds from deserving athletes/ sportspersons are approved expeditiously;

(d) whether the Government provides financial assistance and State-of-the-art sports facilities to the sports persons participating in the National/International sports competitions and at district level sports competitions in the country including in rural areas; and

(e) if so, the details of financial assistance provided during each of the last three years and the current year, along with the number of sports persons benefited therefrom, State/UT-wise and sports discipline-wise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b): Expenses towards participation in international sports events abroad, organizing coaching camps, conduct of national championships, conduct of international tournaments in India, procurement of sports equipments etc. are met under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) and funds are released to NSFs as per the approved Annual Calendar of Training & Competitions.

Requests of elite sportspersons for financial assistance for customised training within the country and abroad, procurement of sports equipments etc. are considered under National Sports Development Fund (NSDF). Proposals complete in all respects are dealt with expeditiously and not kept pending.

Details of funds released to sportspersons from NSDF during last three years and the current year are given in Annexure-I.

(c): Proposals of sportspersons for financial assistance for training and sports equipments are considered in meetings of Executive Committee of National Sports Development Fund, which are held at regular intervals.

(d) & (e): The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports provides financial assistance to NSFs for participation in international sports events abroad, conduct of international tournaments in India, conduct of National Championships, organizing coaching camps, procurement of sports equipments etc. At coaching camps organized at centres of Sports Authority of India prior to participation in international sports tournaments, state-of-the art training facilities are provided.

Details of funds released to NSFs under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs are given in Annexure-II.