(a) whether the Government has formulated any special action plan to promote sports in rural areas by encouraging rural youth towards sports;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of the funds allocated by the Union Government in this regard during the last three years, State-wise?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
{ SHRI KIREN RIJIJU }
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*264 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2020 REGARDING “SPORTS IN RURAL AREAS” ASKED BY SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR AND DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY, HON’BLE MEMBERS OF LOK SABHA
(a) and (b) The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is running schemes for promotion of sports as well as attaining excellence in sports. These schemes include:-
(i) Khelo India Scheme (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii)Special Awards to Winners in International sports events and their Coaches; (iv) National Sports Awards, Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons; (v) National Sports Development Fund; and (vi) Sports Training Centres run through Sports Authority of India. The Ministry is also promoting rural and indigenous/tribal games under the ‘Khelo India Scheme’ and through the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ programme. Most athletes benefitting under these schemes come from rural areas.
Details of these schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.
(c) Sports being a State subject, the responsibility for promotion and development of sports rests with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. My Ministry supplements their efforts under various schemes.
The fund allocation for sports has increased by about fifty percent this year as compared to the last year. Last year, my Ministry spent Rs. 1297.32 crores for sports. Compared to this, until now in the current year we have spent Rs. 1651.20 crores. The Government is committed to provide adequate funds for Khelo India Scheme.
The information of the funds allocated and expenditure incurred under the various sports schemes during the last three years and the current year are given at Annexure. The allocation of funds by my Ministry is not State-wise, but Scheme-wise.
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