NEW DELHI: The authorities has released Rs 13.73 crore for the disabled sportspersons till date beneath the Khelo India Scheme, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju instructed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Despite sports being a ‘state topic’ beneath the Indian Constitution, the union authorities has been allocating funds scheme-wise since 2016-17, Rijiju stated in a written reply.
“Funds are allotted by the Union Government Scheme-wise, not State/Union Territory-wise. Under one of many verticals of the Khelo India Scheme, specifically ‘Promotion of sports amongst individuals with disabilities’ funds to the tune of Rs 13.73 crore have been released till date for promotion of sports amongst disabled sportspersons,” Rijiju stated.
More than 20 para-sportspersons have to date certified for the Tokyo Paralympics to be held from August 25 to September 6. Many of those para-sportspersons are beneath the central authorities’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
“Sports being a State topic, the duty of improvement of sports, together with promotion of sports competitions for divyang individuals, rests with State/Union Territory Governments. The Central Government dietary supplements their efforts by bridging important gaps,” the Minister stated.
“However, the Union Government has began a Central Sector Scheme, specifically, Khelo India Scheme within the yr 2016-17 and revamped it additional with twelve verticals in 2017-18.”
