(a) the criteria laid down for conferring Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards in the field of sports;
(b) whether the Government have received any complaints regarding unfair distribution of the above awards and that the recipients are drug users and non-deserving as well;
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(c) if so, the details in this regard and the reasons therefor; and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government to check such unfair practice in this field of sports?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI PON. RADHAKIRISHNAN)
(a) The Government has laid down the following criteria for Arjuna Awards and Dronachayra Awards:-
Arjuna Awards : To be eligible for the Arjuna Awards, a sports person should have had not only good performance consistently for the previous three years at the National/International level with excellence for the year for which the Award is recommended but also should have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and sense of discipline. Government also considers giving Awards to such sports persons who have contributed their life time to sports and sports promotion.
Dronacharya Award: This Award is open to coaches whether they work full time or part time as coaches, the primary and fundamental emphasis being on honouring such coaches as have produced outstanding achievements in the year for which the award is given and, consistently, very good achievements during the three years previous to the year of the
Award. Government also considers giving award to such coaches, who have, contributed their life time to sports and sports promotion.
(b) & (c): There are a few representations from individuals indicating that although they are deserving, they were not given Arjuna Awards and also indicating that there is long list of deserving sports persons who have not been considered for Arjuna Awards. It has also been suggested that objective guidelines are required to be formulated so that there could be no deviation with subjective outlook.
(d) There exists an objective criteria for selection of the awardees and a well established procedure in this regard.