The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that the Government of India has been running a scheme called ‘Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) scheme, to promote sports in the rural areas of the country. Introduced in 2008-09, it aims at development of playfields in all the village and block panchayats across the country in a phased manner and conduct of annual sports competitions from block to the national level for providing ample opportunity of participation to rural youth. 58,153 Village/block panchayats have been covered under the PYKKA Scheme. The State-wise funds allocation and expenditure incurred during each of the last three years and current year is given as Annexure. However, sports discipline-wise information does not maintained by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Jitendra Singh said, there are two bodies i.e. General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC) of PYKKA which monitor the progress of the scheme. Secretaries (Sports) from the States/UT’s are also represented in these bodies. During the meetings, GC and EC review the performance of the States, particularly with reference to their progress report and submission of utilization certificates.  In the States, there are State level Executive Committees and District Level Executive Committee to monitor the implementation of the PYKKA Scheme. The scheme is also being monitored by the PYKKA Observers who are eminent sports persons and also by the Project Officers from the Mission Directorate- PYKKA who randomly visit the States/UT’s.  The reports submitted by both PYKKA Observers and Project Officers are analyzed remedial action.

Sportspersons of different disciplines are already being assisted under the existing schemes of the Department of Sports and Sports Authority of India, the Minister added.

Click here to see Annexure

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