Department of Sports, MYAS is committed to the mission of development of sports in India. Many schemes are being implemented for elite athletes, national sports federations and common citizens. A team in the Department of Sports is trying to bring more interaction between and the Department.
The following salient activities have been undertaken by the Department since September 2015: -
(i) Increase in the assistance of scale of NSFs and sportspersons: To facilitate participation of sportspersons in various events and to enhance competition, the amount for holding National Championships has been revised from Rs.2.lakhs for seniors to Rs.5 lakh and Rs.7 lakhs for juniors and Rs.10 lakhs for sub-juniors. This will help catch sporting talent young.
For international events held in India, the quantum of financial assistance has been enhanced from Rs.10 lakhs to Rs.30 lakhs per tournament. Air Travel, insurance rates, hotel entitlements etc., have been substantially increased for athletes and coaches. Salaries of coaches and high performance coaches have been enhanced. Special incentives have been extended to players from North East region.
(ii) Assistance to prospective medal winners through TOP Scheme: Identified probable athletes and selected elite athletes are being provided financial assistance for their customized training at Institutes having world class facilities and other necessary support under Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme, which the Government specifically formulated and launched in 2014 through National Sports Development Fund with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects for Rio Olympics 2016 and Olympic Games 2020. Financial assistance of Rs. 48.83 crore has been approved for sportspersons identified for financial assistance under TOP Scheme.
(iii) 12TH South Asian Games – a prestigious International multi-sports event being held in North East India in Guwahati and Shillong from 5th – 16th February 2016. Though the time available for preparation was less than six months, the team in the Department of Sports along with Sports Authority of India and IOA has pulled out all stops to pull together sources and manpower with the assistance of State Governments of Assam and Meghalaya. All 23 venues have been made ready in time for the Games and test game runs are starting from 23rd January 2016. All eight Member Countries of SAARC have conveyed their participation and total number of 1435 men athletes and 1159 women athletes have already confirmed their participation. Of the 23 events, 16 will take place in Guwahati and 7 in Shillong. The sports loving people of North-East are eagerly awaiting the inaugural of the 12th SAG which is going to be held in the afternoon of 5th February 2016 in Guwahati by Hon'ble PM.
(iv) Preparation for Rio Olympics: Our preparations for forthcoming Olympic Games, which are scheduled to be held from 5-21 August 2016 at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), are going in the right earnest. Department has decided to assist 106 athletes and 67 athletes have enrolled under this scheme.
(v) FIFA Under 17 World Cup: India is hosting Under-17 World Cup Football. The Cabinet had at its meeting held on 13.6.2013 to bid to host the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Under 17 World Cup Football Tournament in 2017 in India. All India Football Federation (AIFF) have proposed holding of matches in Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Goa and Kerala.
(vi) Inclusion of differently-abled and intellectually challenged sportspersons in the revised Scheme of Special Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports revised the Scheme of Special Awards to medal winners in international events and their coaches on 29th January 2015. Amount of award money for medalists of Paralympic Games (summer & winter), Para-Asian Games and Commonwealth Games (Para-Athletes) have been fixed at par with medallists of Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
(vii) Organising National School Games in a big way: Department of Sports has decided to organise National School Games in a big way at four to five venues in the country every year. A beginning is being made by supporting these games in the state of Kerala, where they are proposed to be held from 29th January, 2016.
Schemes such as “Come and Play” meant for general public are being implemented through various SAI centres. Special efforts are on to develop the sporting culture in our country. I invite all the citizens, athletes, coaches, schools, universities and sports federations to make use of the services provided by the department and give valuable suggestions to improve its facilities and schemes.
(Rajiv Yadav)
Secretary, Sports
