Sports Ministry sanctions over Rs 142 cr to 14 states

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Sports Ministry has sanctioned over Rs 142.24 crore for providing Grant-in-Aid to 14 states for creating basic infrastructure in villages under the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).

While Maharashtra has been aided with the maximum amount of over Rs 27.54 crore, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have been assisted with over Rs 23.64 crore and Rs 25.97 crore respectively.

Under the PYKKA programme, the financial assistance shall be given to 12854 Village Panchayats and 376 Block Panchayats for the one time Capital Grant for development of Sports Infrastructure, Annual Acquisition Grant and Annual Operational Grant during the year 2008-2009.

The scheme also provides for conducting annual competitions in 100 per cent of Block, District and State-level Panchayats in the states.

Under the scheme, Rs 3 lakh as 100 per cent Central Grant to each district and Rs 50,000 as 100 per cent Central Grant to each Block is envisaged for the Annual Competition Grant.

The Ministry has already separately approved a grant of Rs 5.16 crore to five states.

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