Revision of the Scheme of Special Awards to Winners
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has revised the Scheme of Special Awards to medal winners in international events and their coaches on 29th January 2015. Outcomes and Progress: In the revised scheme, the amount of award money have been enhanced. The amount of award money for medal winners in Olympic Games (summer and winter) has been enhanced from existing Rs. 50 lakh (gold medal), Rs. 30 lakh (silver medal) and Rs. 20 lakh (bronze medal) to Rs. 75 lakh, Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 30 lakh respectively. The amount of award money for medal winners in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games has been enhanced from existing Rs. 20 lakh (gold medal), Rs. 10 lakh (silver medal) and Rs. 6 lakh (bronze medal) to Rs. 30 lakh, Rs. 20 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh respectively. In the category of the World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships, three separate categories of award money have been provided depending on whether the championships is held once in four years, once in two years or held annually.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), a centrally sponsored scheme, was launched on 21.2.2014 in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA). Under the revised RGKA scheme, construction of a sports complex in each block of the country both for outdoor and indoor sports disciplines on land measuring about six – seven acres at a Total cost of Rs. 1.60 crore (Rs. 80 lakh each for outdoor playfield and indoor sports hall) will be undertaken. There is also provision of Rs. 15 lakh for sports equipment and Rs. 1.5 lakh for furniture to be provided by Department of Sports. All the 6545 blocks in 634 districts will be covered in a phased manner over a period of 5 years. Further, following sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels are conducted under Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan: Rural Sports Competitions, Sports Competitions exclusively for Women North East Games, Sports Competitions for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
Outcomes and Progress: RGKA aims (i) to provide universal access to sports in rural areas and promote sports culture among both boys and girls; (ii) to harness available and potential sporting talent among rural youth, through a well-designed competition structure from the block level; and (iii) to put in place an effective mechanism to identify and nurture sporting talent in rural areas.
The above objectives will be achieved by construction of block level sports complexes and conduct of Annual rural Sports competitions.
Annual Rural Sports Competitions were conducted in 22 States in the year 2014-15 and a sum of Rs. 83.84 crore was released to these States for holding such competitions. A total number of 7666 athletes participated at the National level sports competitions. The first three winners were given utility prizes, medals and prize money. The participants were youth and from rural areas.
Special Package for J&K
For implementation of the 2014-15 Budget announcements for upgrading the indoor and outdoor sports stadiums to international standards in Jammu and in the Kashmir Valley., the Department of Sports is working in consultation with the Sports Department of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. It has been decided to develop Sports Infrastructure in the States of Jammu & Kashmir with the following objectives: Creation of ultra-modern and high tech facilities in existing Stadia in Srinagar and Jammu. Maximum operational efficiency of each sports complex.
Phasing of construction programmes. Efficient management of movement of spectators, dignitaries and players. Sports complex to be landmark and pride of the city.
A proposal has been submitted by the J&K Government for Rs. 200 crore with the following features:
Reconstruction of the entire existing stadia on international specification with RCC frame structure, ten lane athletic track, sports hostel for 500 inmates both at Srinagar and Jammu at an estimated cost of Rs. 70 crores each. Upgradation of indoor stadium both at Srinagar & Jammu. Creation of water sports centre at Manasbal, Srinagar at a cost of Rs. 2 crore. Construction of multipurpose indoor sports halls at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 Crore each at 8 places in the State. The Proposal involves an estimated expenditure of Rs. 100 crores each for Srinagar & Jammu region with a total cost of Rs. 200 crores.
Outcomes and Progress: MOS (I/C), YAS has approved the proposal in principle. After consultation with State Government for implementation of the Project, Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) is being issued for selection of a Central/ State PSUs as Project Management Consultant (PMC) for executing the project. An allocation of Rs. 100 crores has been made during the current year.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports) have formulated ‘NSDF Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme’ in the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. Focused disciplines will be Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Wrestling and Shooting.
Outcomes and Progress: The selected athletes will be provided financial assistance for their customized training at Institutes having world class facilities and other necessary support. Benchmark for selection of athletes under the scheme will be in relation to international standards. There will be annual/semi-annual review of performance of selected athletes.
A Committee namely, ‘TOP Scheme Elite Athletes Identification Committee’ has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Anurag Thakur, M.P. for laying down elaborate norms for selection of the right candidates, review of performance and operation of the scheme. Rahul Dravid, Pullela Gopichand, Abhinav Bindra and MC Mary Kom are among other members in the Committee. As on 28th April 2015, the Committee, after detailed deliberations, has decided on athletes in the following disciplines for assistance under the scheme:
Athletics (19 athletes) (Athletes for 4×400 Women’s Relay Team and Race Walking Team are yet to be identified) Archery (16 archers) (yet to be identified) Badminton (6 Players) Boxing (8 boxers)
Shooting (17 shooters) Wrestling (7 wrestlers) Yachting (2 sailors). In all 36 athletes have so far agreed to join the Scheme. 20 have submitted their programmes. Some of these programmes have been approved and assistance has started flowing to the athletes.
India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), a PSU under the Ministry of Finance, has agreed to contribute Rs. 30 crore to National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) by contribution of Rs. 10 crore per annum for next three years. Contribution of Rs. 10 crore for 2015-16 has already been received.
Sports University at Manipur
The proposal for setting up of National Sports University in Manipur was formally announced by the Hon’ble Finance Minister in his Budget Speech 2014-15.
Outcomes and Progress: B.PEd, MPEd, Diploma / certificate courses in coaching, physiotherapy, fitness, sports management, sports journalism, etc. will be available at the National Sports University in Manipur. Location of the proposed University has been identified in Thoubal district of Manipur. Land acquisition has been started by the Government of Manipur. As per latest information, an area of 163 acres of land has already been taken over by the Government of Manipur and 47-49 acres will be taken over shortly. However, handing over land for the proposed University will take some more time. Therefore, it is proposed to start the University at the Integrated Sports Complex at Khuman Lampak, Imphal, from the academic year 2015-16. Initially, it would be affiliated to the existing North Eastern Regional Centre (NERC) of Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior. After the necessary infrastructure is created along with the engagement of Faculty, the National Sports University would be fully functional.
Sports Talent Search Scheme
A new Scheme National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS) has been formulated for talent identification in the age group of 8-12 years and nurturing of identified talented sportspersons.
Outcomes and Progress:
(i) Identification of sporting talent among students in the age group of 8–12 years (for admission in Class IV to Class VI) who possess inborn qualities such as anthropometric, physical and physiological capabilities without any anatomical infirmities.
(ii) Nurturing of the Sporting Potential / talent in District level Sports schools / Central Sports Schools / National Sports Academies etc., to make them excel at the National and international sports competitions. This will help broaden the pool of Sportspersons in the Country. Scheme and Guidelines of new scheme have been communicated to State Governments/UTs on 20.2.2015.
Himalayan Region Sports Festival
Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for 2014-15 had stated that “Unique sports traditions have developed in the Himalayan region countries and the states which are a part of it. To promote these, India will start an annual event to promote these games and would invite countries such as Nepal and Bhutan also to participate in addition to the Indian states such as J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the North Eastern States. The Department of Sports has formulated Himalayan Region Sports Festival (HRSF) for promoting unique sports traditions in the Himalyan Region, which includes Nepal and Bhutan Indian states such as J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and the North Eastern States.
CREATION OF REGIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
From time to time Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has received requests from various sports federations for grant of recognition as NSFs. The requests thus received generally fall in the following categories:- Indigenous sports popular in some regions of India. Hybrid format of various sports played abroad. Modified format of various martial art sports. High cost sports disciplines which are played in India occasionally at a few places. The matter has been examined in the Ministry and with a view to promoting and giving due acknowledgement and importance to sports having regional spread, it has been decided with the approval of the competent authority to consider granting recognition to sports federations of certain indigenous sports discipline as RSFs subject to the following conditions: The sports disciplines must be popular in a region/state and played in one or more states.
