The
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri
Jitendra Singh has said that the “Talent Search & Training Scheme” is
implemented for providing financial assistance to athletes who include national
champions of the current year and those who won medals of Olympics, Asian
Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. The assistance is provided
for their customized training, equipment and scientific support. The details of
sportspersons assisted under the Scheme Relating to Talent Search and Training
(SRTST) is at Annexure.
In
a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Jitendra Singh said, financial assistance is also provided for advance training
to Indian Coaches and other support staff. Apart from the above, the Sports
Authority of India (SAI) is running the following schemes:-
(i)
National Sports Talent Contest
Scheme (NSTC): Children in the age group of 8 to 14 years are trained in
indigenous games & martial arts;
(ii) Army
Boys Sports Company Scheme (ABSC): Children in the age group of 8 to 16 are imparted training in 13
sports disciplines;
(iii) SAI’s Training Centres
(STC): There are 58 STC residential training Centres
across the country and children in the age group of 12 to 18 are imparted
training in 28 sports disciplines.
(iv) Scheme of Special Area Games(SAG):
Children in the age group of 12 to 18 years from tribal, rural and coastal
areas of the country are imparted training in modern competitive sports on both
residential and non-residential basis. There are 20 SAG Centres
across the country.
(v) Centre of Excellence (COE): Under the
scheme, trainees in the age group of 12 to 25 are imparted training. Under the COE,
those sportspersons who have
shown performance at National level competitions are trained for preparing
national teams for international mega events like Olympic, Asian Games,
Commonwealth Games, etc.
Under these schemes, free board
& lodging facilities, sports kit, sports equipment, and competition exposure
are provided. Non-residential trainees are given monthly stipend in place of boarding &
lodging. In the Centre of Excellence, the trainees are provided with the state
of art facilities, equipment, and scientific backup along with specialized
training.
(vi) Further, “Come and Play Scheme’ was
introduced in 2011-12 for spotting and nurturing talent in the age group of
8-17 years in the SAI’s stadia in Delhi and its regional centres
in different parts of the country in popular sports disciplines like Archery,
Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Fencing, Football,
Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Kabaddi, Lawn Tennis,
Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo & Wrestling.
In addition, advance and specialized
training is given to elite athletes for participating in international
tournaments including Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. Sportspersons from various parts of the
country can benefit from the schemes mentioned above, but state-wise allocation
of funds is not made, the Minister added.
Click here to
see Annexure
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AD/DB