Govt reviewing sports policy: Aiyar
New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) A small country like Cuba trains one lakh sportspersons and China 50 lakh per year as compared to 10,000 trained in India which has a population of a billion.
Giving these figures while replying to a question by Dr K Malaisamy in the Rajya Sabha today, Minister of Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs and Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar said the country badly needed strengthening and restructuring of its sports programmes.
India has a large young population, over 70 crore , in the 0-35 age group, but such a huge number of young people were deprived of any access to organised sports, he said.
The Minister said the government was reviewing the sports policy in the context of the 11th plan and developments in the sphere of sports including the country's desire to host various international mega events.
The Ministry was also considering to promote a Panchayatai Raj Yuva Khel Abhiyan in collaboration with other stakeholders, including educational institutions, Panchayati Raj institutions, youth organisations and sports-related establishments.
UNI NAZ PK DB1302