Rs 3,073 allocated to Sports Ministry

The government today allocated an increased sum of Rs 3,073 crore for Sports Ministry in the Union budget for fiscal 2009-10 and also proposed to sanction Rs 3,472 crore for next year's Commonwealth Games.     

The budget for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been increased by Rs 1,480 crore than what was proposed in the interim budget presented before the Lok Sabha elections.     

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee proposed to increase the allocation for the 2010 CWG from Rs 2,112 crore in the interim budget to Rs 3,472 crore.     

"The Commonwealth Games present the country with an opportunity to showcase our potential as an emerging Asian power," he said in his speech.     

The CWG funds will be spent on SAI stadia renovation, upgradation/ creation of venues, furnishing of the venues and preparation of teams.     

Besides, Rs 16.75 crore has been earmarked as against Rs 5.75 crore sanctioned earlier this year for anti-doping activities which will include setting up of National Dope Test Laboratory (NDTL), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and also the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA).     

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and National Service Schemes have also been benefitted by the budget bagging Rs 102 crore and Rs 93 crore respectively against the previous sums of Rs 88.68 crore and Rs 61.94 crore.     

There is only marginal hike for awards and other sports related promotional schemes.