Question : National Sports Federations

(a) whether the National Sports Federations (NSFs) are not giving due attention to promotion of women players in various sports including cricket and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(b) the details of financial assistance provided by the Government to these NSFs during each of the last three years and the current year, NSF-wise;

(c) whether any incidents of misuse of funds by the NSFs has come to the notice of the Government during the said period and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) the details of the mechanism set up by the Government for monitoring of such financial assistance; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote women players in various sports in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
[COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)]

(a) National Sports Federations (NSFs) are responsible for promotion and development of respective sports disciplines both for men and women players. No specific instance of not giving due attention to promotion of women players in various sports including Cricket has been established.

(b) & (c) A statement showing financial assistance provided to various NSFs during each of the last three years and the current year is given in the Annexure. No specific incident of misuse of funds by the NSFs has come to the notice during the said period.

(d) The NSFs are required to submit their accounts, duly audited by the Chartered Accountants in the panel of Comptroller & Auditor General of India. No further grant is released to NSF unless the audited accounts and Utilization Certificate of previous grants are received. Accounts of the NSFs receiving grant of more than Rs. 1.00 crore in a year are subject to audit by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India. In the event of failure to utilize the grant, in full or part, by the NSF for the purpose for which it was sanctioned, the NSF is liable to refund the whole or part of the grant remained unutilized.

(e) The Schemes being implemented by this Ministry and other bodies under its aegis are gender neutral and equally applicable to both men and women sportspersons. Further, under the Khelo India Scheme, implemented by this Ministry, there is a dedicated vertical of “Sports for Women”, wherein emphasis is laid on such sports disciplines where there is less participation of women so that more number of women will participate in such sports disciplines.
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