Schemes for development of sports
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and
Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that the details of the existing
schemes of the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs &
Sports for the development of sports in the country are as follows:
(i) “Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan” (RGKA), a centrally sponsored scheme
introduced in 2014-15 in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur
Khel Abhiyan, aims at construction of Integrated Sports Complexes in all
block panchayats of the country in a phased manner and providing access
to organized sports competitions at block, district, state and national
levels.
(ii) Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, introduced in 2010-11,
envisages development of playfields by the State Governments through
Playfield Associations, coach development programme through Central and
State Governments, creation of infrastructure including laying of
artificial turfs for hockey, football and athletics, and construction of
multi-purpose hall. Under the Scheme, State Governments, local civic
bodies, schools, colleges, universities and sports control boards are
eligible for assistance.
(iii) Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for
conduct of National Championships at Senior, Junior, Sub-Junior level
for men and women, conduct of international tournaments in India,
participation of sportspersons in international sports competitions,
organizing coaching camps, engagement of foreign coaches, and
procurement of sports equipments.
(iv) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for various activities
including giving assistance to elite athletes, who are medal prospects
for their customized and tailor-made training and competition exposure.
(v) Scheme of Human Resource Development in Sports focusses on
developing human resources in sports sciences and sports medicine for
the overall development of sports and games in the country. The scheme
also provides assistance to coaches and referees / judges to upgrade
knowledge / accreditation level and assistance for participation in and
conduct of seminars in India, etc.
(vi) Scheme of Special Cash Awards for Winners of medals in international sports events and their coaches.
(vii) Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons after they
retire from active sports career with the objective of providing them
financial security and incentivizing sporting achievements.
(viii) Scheme of National Sports Awards, viz, Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards, Dhyanchand Awards for
honouring them for their achievements and contributions as sportspersons
and coaches.
(ix) National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons for providing lump sum
financial assistance to sportspersons now living in indigent conditions
for their medical treatment etc.
(x) Scheme of Sports & Games for Persons with Disabilities for
broad-basing of sports among differently-abled sportspersons by way of
conduct of training for community coaches, conduct of sports
competitions and providing assistance to schools/institutes having
differently-abled sportspersons on their rolls for procurement of sports
equipments and engagement of coaches on contract basis.
Details of the schemes of Sports Authority of India (SAI) for development of sports in the country are as under:
(i) National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC): The main
objective of the scheme is to identify gifted and talented sportspersons
among school children in the age group of 8-14 years.
(ii) Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) is implemented in
collaboration with the Army. Children in the age group of 8-16 years are
imparted scientific training to achieve excellence at national and
international levels. The scheme also provides job opportunities in the
Indian Army. Similar arrangements are proposed to be made in Central
Para-military forces.
(iii) Special Area Games (SAG): This Scheme follows an area-specific
approach to scout and nurture talent for modern competitive games and
sports from tribal, rural, coastal and hilly areas of the country. The
main objective of the scheme is to train talented and meritorious
sportspersons in the age group of 12-18 years.
(iv) SAI Training Centres (STC): Under this scheme, talented youth in
the age group of 12-18 years are given the option to join the scheme on
residential or non-residential basis.
(v) Centres of Excellence (COE): The main objective of this scheme is
to identify and train outstanding sportspersons who are medal prospects
for the country in international competitions.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Sonowal said,
allocation of funds to various National Sports Federations towards
participation of sportspersons and teams in international sports events,
conduct of international tournaments in India, conduct of National
Championship, organizing of National Coaching Camps is done in acordance
with the Annual Calender of Training and Competition (ACTCs) finalized
in consultation with NSFs. Details of grants released to National Sports
Federations, sports discipline-wise during last one year are given in
Annexure. For other schemes of the Department of Sports, Sports
discipline-wise expenditure is not maintained.
Click here to see Annexure.
