Question : Training by Sports Authority of India

(a) whether the services of NIS trained coaches provided under various schemes by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have now been discontinued and if so, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether these services are likely to be re-started and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to launch any scheme to identify the young children from various parts of the country particularly tribal areas for various sports by providing intensive training and setting up of sports academies for the purpose and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Union Government proposes to provide financial assistance to State Governments which are running various sports academies in their respective States; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. Sports Authority of India (SAI) has deployed 940 regular coaches under various schemes, in addition to 139 contract coaches. SAI is only withdrawing the coaches from the District State Coaching Centres and University Field stations in a phased manner, as per the decision of the Governing Body due to shortage of coaches. The
services of these coaches are being utilized effectively by posting them under various schemes of SAI.
(c) Sports being a state subject, the responsibility of promotion of sports in the respective states lies with the concerned State Governments. However, in order to supplement the efforts of the State Governments, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following Sports Promotional Schemes to promote sports in the Country:
? National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)
? Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC)
? SAI Training Centre (STC)
? Special Area Games (SAG)
? Extension Centre of STC/SAG
? Centre of Excellence (CoE)
? National Sports Academies (NSA)
Presently, 12,512 talented sports persons (8822 boys and 3690 girls) identified under SAI Schemes are being trained in 27 sports disciplines across the country.
The majority of the sports persons selected under the above schemes are identified from the tribal, rural and backward area of the country and provided regular training under residential and non residential basis.
The Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme of SAI is, however, implemented to select sports talent mainly from the tribal, rural, coastal and remote backward and hilly areas. Currently, there are 19 SAG Centres with 1956 trainees (1090 boys and 866 girls) being trained and provided expert sports coaches, required playing facilities, consumable and non-consumable sports equipment, expenses towards boarding and lodging, sports kit, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical and insurance and stipend for day boarders as per the approved scheme norms.
To promote sports on single discipline basis and also to provide state-of-art sports infrastructure and other allied facilities, Sports Authority of India has introduced SAI National Sports Academy (NSA) Scheme to identify talented sports persons in the respective sports disciplines and train them to excel at National and International Level. SAI has so far established 07 Academies in the discipline of Athletics at
Thiruvananthapuram and Bhopal, Cycling at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi, Swimming at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex (SPMSPC), New Delhi, Golf at Thiruvananthapuram, Boxing at Rohtak and Hockey at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.
(d) & (e): Under ‘Khelo India’, a National Programme for Development of Sports, financial assistance is granted for creation of sports infrastructure in the country including construction of stadia complex at District Headquarters. The Stadia complex may, inter-alia include sports academies and training centres including hostels for sportspersons.
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