More sportspersons trained under government schemes in FY21 than FY22
At the peak of the COVID pandemic and the accompanying lockdowns, there were more sportspersons who trained under the Centre’s various schemes, government data suggest. In comparison to 2020-21, the numbers fell in 2021-22.
The pandemic hit India in early 2020 and lockdowns followed, putting an end to all activities. However, sportspersons continued to train during the year and in 2021 as well, when COVID cases were increasing in the country.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur gave the data in the Rajya Sabha after MP from Rajasthan, Neeraj Dangi, asked three questions.
Dangi asked about the funds allocated to states to promote sports under Khelo India and other schemes in the country during the last three years; whether the government has taken any action against the states where there were no sports training centres; and the number of sportspersons who trained at sports training centres during the last two years.
In his reply, Thakur said, “Funds are allocated scheme-wise, not state-wise in this ministry. During the last three years and the current year, ₹6,601.06 crore were allocated under the Khelo India scheme and other sports development schemes of this ministry.”
“Sports being a state subject, the responsibility to establish and run sports training centres in the country rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory governments. The Union government supplements their efforts. As such, the information regarding sports training centres run by the States/UTs and the number of sportspersons being trained in such centres is not maintained in this ministry,” he added.
State-wise details
However, the state/UT-wise details of sportspersons being trained under the Khelo India scheme of the ministry and sports promotional schemes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), during the last two years are provided, he said.
As per the information given by the minister, in 2020-21, as many as 9,225 sportspersons from various states and UTs trained under the sports promotional schemes of the Sports Authority of India. Haryana topped the list with 753 followed by Assam (721). Kerala (681) was third while Manipur (675) was fourth. Uttar Pradesh (568) stood fifth.
The number dipped and it 7,998 for the year 2021-22 with Haryana again being the number one state with 662 sportspersons. Assam (631) was again second followed by Kerala (590). Uttar Pradesh (584) and Manipur (566) completed the top five.
Under the Khelo India scheme, 2,964 sportspersons were trained in 2020-21 and 2,275 in 2021-22.
State/UT-wise details of sportspersons trained under the sports promotional schemes of SAI during the last two years.
