Promotion of sports among rural youth

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Promotion of sports among rural youth

31 DEC 2018

'Sports' is a State subject and promotion of sports in the country, including promotion of Sports among rural youth is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and the National Sports Federations (NSFs) concerned. The Central Government complements/supplements the efforts of the State Governments and the NSFs. Government is already running several schemes to increase participation of the rural youth in sports.

The Khelo India Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports provides for promotion of sports among entire population including rural youth. Also, the scheme has a dedicated vertical, viz., Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games which provides for financial assistance to NSFs / Non Government Organizations (NGOs) etc for promotion of sports in the country including rural areas. Under this vertical, various NSFs have been provided financial assistance to hold competitions in various parts of the country including those in rural areas. During the period from January to October 2018, a total number of 36 such competitions / exhibition events had been held.

Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous organization under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, is implementing following sports promotional schemes across the country to identify talented sports persons in the age group of 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at national and international competitions:

• 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)

Many of the sports persons identified under SAI Sports Promotional Schemes belong to the rural, tribal, backward, coastal and inaccessible hilly areas of the country and are provided with training facilities in the form of expert sports coaches, requisite playing facilities, boarding & lodging, sports kit, competition exposure, educational expenses, medical/insurance and stipend as per the approved norms.

In addition, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), an autonomous organization under aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, undertakes programmes such as Block and District level Sports Meets, providing sports material to Youth Clubs etc., for popularizing and encouraging sports and develop competitive spirit among youth including rural youth. During 2017-18, a total 2965 Block level sports meets and 556 District level sports meets were conducted by NYKS.

The Government does not have any proposal for starting programme in addition to already existing programmes to increase participation of the rural youth in sports.

This information was given by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore (Retd.) in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha today.

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Promotion of Sports - Lok Sabha

Promotion of Sports - Lok Sabha

The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Lok Sabha today that as sports is a State subject, the primary responsibility for promoting sports including encouraging sports among students at primary and higher secondary school level is that of States. However, Department of Sports and the Sports Authority of India supplement the efforts of the States. School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) have been recognized by the Government of India as National Sports Promotion Organizations (NSPOs) and are eligible for the same level of assistance as are available to National Sports Federations (NSFs).

In a written reply he said, Ministry of Human Resource Development has, inter-alia, intimated that as per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005, Health and Physical Education is a compulsory subject upto X Class and optional subject at Higher Secondary Stage. Health and Physical Education includes age appropriate games and sports including athletics, swimming and gymnastics. National Curriculum also focuses that to transact this areas effectively, it is essential that minimum physical space and equipment's are available in every school.

Further, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, has been enacted, making elementary education a Fundamental Right, which, inter alia, provides for

(i) a playground for each school;
(ii) A part time instructor for physical education in upper primary schools;
(iii) Supply of play material, games and sports equipment, as required, to schools.

In terms of the provisions of the RTE Act, no school shall be established or recognized unless it fulfils the norms specified in the Schedule attached to the Act.

A Scheme called "Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports" is being implemented by this Ministry as a Central Sector Scheme from the current financial year 2016-17. This Scheme, inter-alia, provides for holding of annual sports competitions in respect of priority and popular sports in two age groups of (i) under 14 and (ii) under 17 all over India to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in Sports in both urban and rural areas including schools and identification of talented sportspersons. However, there is no proposal to implement schemes like 'slum-running' from district level to state level as of now.
Further, to promote various sports in the country apart from athletics, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following Sports Promotional Schemes to identify talented sports person in the age group of 8-25 years and nurture them to excel at National and International level competition:

National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC)

1. Indigenous Games & Martial Arts, (IGMA)
2. Akharas

• 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)

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