(a) whether the Prime Minister has stressed the need to give priority to the indigenous/traditional and tourism games in the country;
(b) if so, whether the sports policy 2001 also indicated promotion of indigenous games; and
(c) If so, the steps taken by the Union Government to promote the indigenous/traditional and tourism games at the International Level?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)
(a) Yes, Sir. The Prime Minister in his address before the National Sports Congress on 26 August, 2003 had stressed the need for giving special attention to the promotion of traditional Indian Sports.
(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) Government of India has accorded traditional games like Archery, Kabaddi and Wrestling `Priority Status` amongst sports disciplines for extending financial assistance. In addition to other sports, promotion of indigenous/traditional games is also being done through its schemes of `Rural Sports Programme` and `Assistance to National Sports Federations`.
The Sports Authority of India also promotes traditional and indigenous games through its schemes of (a) National Sports Talent Contest, (b) Army Boys Sports Company (c) SAI Training Centres (d) Special Area Games (e) Centre of Excellence. Under its NSTC Scheme, 27 schools all over the country have been adopted for promotion of indigenous games and martial arts. The National Sports Policy, 2001 recognises the inter-dependence and inter-relationship between sports and tourism. The Ministry also implements a scheme of Promotion of Adventure which, inter-alia, promotes adventure sports and tourism.