Basic facilities to sportspersons
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that Sports is a State Subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and National Sports Federations (NSFs) to promote sports. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today he said, the Central Government complements/supplements the efforts of the State Governments and the NSFs in this regard. However, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is implementing the following Schemes, open to the entire population, including sportspersons, for providing sports infrastructure and facilities in the country:
i. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) [erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA)]: Under this Scheme, it is proposed to construct a sports complex in each block, both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines through convergence of funds from different schemes. There is also a provision of grants to the tune of Rs.15 lakh for equipment in each such block level sports complex. The Central Government is contemplating to revisit the RGKA Scheme as funds are not forthcoming from the converging Schemes, viz, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), the Additional Central Assistance for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (ACA for LWEAA), and the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources - Central (NLCPR-Central).
ii. Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS) : Under this Scheme 100% financial assistance, subject to prescribed ceiling is provided to (a) State Governments/ UTs (b) Local Civic Bodies; (c) Schools, Colleges and Universities under Central/State Governments; and (d) Sports Control Boards for development of the (i) Synthetic playing surface (for hockey, football and athletics); and (ii) Multipurpose indoor hall.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has not received any complaints from sportspersons with regard to any of the above Schemes, Shri Sonowal added.
