The identification and nurturing/training of the identified talented sportspersons for both National and International sports events is done under the following schemes of the Sports Authority of India (SAI):

1.                  National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) scheme

2.                  Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC) scheme

3.                  Sports Authority of India Training Centers (STC) scheme

4.                  Special Area Games (SAG) scheme

5.                  Centre of Excellence (COE) scheme

For broad-basing of the sports in the country by way of creation/ development of play fields and providing access to the organized sports competitions, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has introduced the Scheme of Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) in 2008-09. An amount of Rs. 83.85 crore in 2008-09, Rs 105 crore in 2009-10, Rs 260.84 crore in 2010-11 and Rs 87.95 crore (upto 31^st Oct, 2011) in 2011-12 were released to the States under the Scheme of PYKKA.

For improving the performance of the Indian sportspersons in international sports events, the Ministry is implementing the following schemes.

i)                                Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs)

ii)                   National Sports Developments Fund (NSDF) scheme

iii)                 Talent Search and Training (TS&T) scheme

iv)                Scheme of Special Awards to the medal winners in International sports events and                    their coaches

v)                  Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons

This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Rajya Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Shadilal Batra.

            RM/RS- USQ1860- RS