On the question of ‘promoting sports activities in schools’ in Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, stated the following in a written reply today.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) from the year 2018-19 to provide quality education to the tribal children from Class VI to XII in their own environment.

Under this Scheme, one EMRS has to be established in blocks having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011).

Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up 740 EMRSs across the country. Additionally, to encourage tribal students in sports and provide them with a platform to enhance their capabilities, Ministry has decided to set up 15 Centre of Excellence for Sports (CoE for Sports) in EMRSs.

Under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme of Ministry of Education, Sports and Physical Education component has been introduced for encouragement of Sports, Physical activities, Yoga, Co-curricular activities, etc. in schools.

A provision has been made for Government schools for grant for sports equipment at the rate of Rs. 5000 for Primary Schools, Rs. 10,000 for upper primary schools and up to Rs. 25,000 for secondary and senior secondary schools per annum.

During the Year 2023-24, an outlay of Rs. 812.42 Crore has been approved under Sports Grant for Government Schools of all States/UTs.

In addition, under the scheme as a support for quality improvement, composite school grant is sanctioned on an annual basis to all Government Schools.

These funds are given for the procurement of non-functional school’s equipment and for incurring other recurring costs including maintenance of playground, sports equipment, indoor activities etc.

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Himanshu Pathak

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