The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Rajya Sabha today that the Sports is a State subject and, therefore, it is primarily the responsibility of the State Government to promote and develop Sports in the country. The Central Government complements/supplements the efforts of the State Governments. Under the revamped Khelo India proposal, there is an exclusive component called “Promotion of Rural, Indigenous and Tribal Games” for promotion and development of traditional sports. 

In a written reply he said, while implementing sports promotional schemes in various sports disciplines across the country, Sports Authority of India (SAI) also promotes Indigenous Games and Martial Arts (IGMA) in 09 disciplines under its National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) scheme where talented children are selected in the age group of 8-14 years in 10 SAI adopted Centres.  

In order to revive such games and promote them among the masses, SAI has adopted the following indigenous games disciplines for their promotion:

a)      Kalaripayatu, Kerala

b)      Silambam, Tamilnadu

c)      Kabaddi, Telengana

d)      Archery, Jharkhand

e)      Malkhamb, Maharashtra

f)       Mukna, Imphal

g)      Thangta, Imphal

h)      Khomlainai, Assam

i)        Gatka, Punjab

            The trainees and the schools adopted in the IGMA scheme are provided with the sports kit, accidental insurance including medical, stipend, annual grant to the school for purchase of equipment and for organizing competitions for scouting talent.

            Details of facilities provided to the IGMA trainees under SAI Sports Promotional Scheme is attached as Annexure - I.

               During the year 2016-17, 159 Athletes (78 boys and 81 girls) were trained in the above traditional sports at 10 SAI adopted Centres.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1918 FOR 01.08.2017 ASKED BY SHRI LAL SINH VADODIA, MP, REGARDING PROMOTION OF TRADITIONAL SPORTS

Annexure - I

INDIGENOUS GAMES & MARTIAL ART (IGMA)

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