Question : Khelo India Scheme

(a) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the Government of Madhya Pradesh for grant of funds under Khelo India Scheme including for National Women’s Championships;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the funds are likely to be sanctioned;

(c) whether the Sports Authority of India (SAI) proposes to revive/restart the services of NIS-trained coaches for sports training under various Central as well as State sponsored schemes and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Union Government has any plan to identify sporting talent among tribal children in popular sports of the States in the age group of 9-14 years and nurture their talent by providing them intense training throughout the year to groom them for future sports championships and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government proposes to set up various sports academies for this purpose in the country particularly in Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Union Government proposes to provide financial assistance to the States for operation of various sports academies which are set up by the State Governments and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
{COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

(a) & (b) This Ministry has received three proposals through the Government of Madhya Pradesh for grant of fund for creation of sports infrastructure under Khelo India Scheme to eligible entities and all the three proposals were approved. The details of proposals and fund sanctioned are given at Annexure – I. A proposal for conduct of National Level Women’s Sports Competitions during 2017-18 under the Khelo India Scheme was received from the Department of Sports & Youth Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh. However, the Khelo India Scheme has since been revamped. This proposal is no more under consideration.

(c) At present, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is utilizing the services of SAI coaches for its own Sports Promotional Schemes. There is no proposal to extend the services of SAI Coaches to any other state sponsored scheme.

(d) SAI is implementing various sports promotional schemes across the country to identify talented sports persons in the age group of 8-25 years including sporting talents among tribal children and nurture them to excel at national and international competitions. Details of SAI promotional Schemes are given at Annexure – II.

The Special Area Game Scheme of SAI specifically scouts talented sportspersons from the tribal belts of the country including coastal, backward and the remote hilly regions. Currently there are 20 SAG Centres where trainees are being trained and provided with expert sports coaches, playing facilities, consumable and non consumable sports equipment, boarding and lodging, sports kit, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical and insurance and stipend as per the approved scheme norms.

In addition to the above, the Khelo India Scheme has a dedicated vertical, namely, ‘Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games’ which provides for showcasing rural and indigenous/tribal games.

(e) & (f) The Khelo India Scheme has a dedicated vertical, namely, ‘Support to National/ Regional/State Sports Academies’ under which Grants-in-aid will be provided for establishment, operation and maintenance of sports academies in respect of identified disciplines to Sports Authority of India, State Governments or to private sector or sports person under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for facilitating and supplementing Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) programme. SAI is also implementing a Scheme of National/Regional Sports Academies under which single discipline high performance residential training centres have been set up by SAI for training best young talent, including those from tribal areas.

Funds are not granted directly to State Governments under the Khelo India Scheme. However, 42 Academies including 4 academies from Madhya Pradesh namely, SAI National Judo Academy, Bhopal, SAI National Athletics (Middle & Long Distance) Academy, Bhopal, MP Academy (Shooting & Athletic), Bhopal and MP Academy (Archery), Jabalpur have been accredited for providing financial assistance to cater to the training of the athletes, boarding lodging, kitting, up-gradation & development of field of Play, accommodation, scientific support etc. The financial assistance will be given directly to the beneficiaries.
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