Govt to set up three international-level sports centres for disabled

The government proposes to establish three state-of-the-art international-level sports centres across the country for the disabled with the objective of providing them training facilities, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment proposes to establish these centres at Zirakpur in Punjab, Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Pal Gurjar said in response to a question.

"The proposed centres shall be state-of-the-art international-level centres of excellence in sports for Divyangs (disabled) with the objective of providing them training facilities on par with the latest (facilities) in the world, thereby enabling them to effectively compete and win medals in various national and international events," he said.

Rs 2.5 crore has been allocated for this purpose in the financial year 2018-19, the government said.

In response to another question, Gurjar said implementation of the Unique Disability Identity (UDID) card project has already commenced in 17 states and Union Territories.

"As per the existing arrangement under UDID project, the card be given in three distinct coloured bars on the basis of of degree of disability, mainly to facilitate quick identification of type of beneficiaries," he said.