Centre to launch Panchayat Yuva Khel Abhiyan for rural youth

New Delhi, Dec 13 (UNI) The Sports Ministry is considering the launching of ''Panchayat Yuva Khel Abhiyan'' to significantly enhance access to sports and games facilities by rural youth, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mani shankar Aiyar told the Lok Sabha today.

The Miniser said the initiative would not only be an integral element of youth development and promotion of a sports culture but also for widening the catchment for spotting and nurturing of talent and promotion of excellence.

''Detailed discussions have also been held in this regard with the state governments and other ministries and stakeholders concerned,'' Mr Aiyar said in a written reply to a question by Mr Ganesh Singh.

Mr Aiyar acknowledged the poor standard of sports in the country as compared to other countries and said the government was endeavouring to strengthen sports infrastructure in the country.

''Although Indian sportspersons have shown impressive performances at the international level in some disciplines like Shooting and Archery in the recent past, a great deal remains to be done to significantly improve the standard of sports in the country.

''The primary responsibility for the creation of the sports facilities rests with the state governments. However, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has set up training centers all over the country and efforts are being made, on a continuing basis, to strengthen, expand and upgrade the infrastructure and facilities in these centers,'' Mr Aiyar said.

The Minister informed the House that there was no proposal to restore the discontinued 10th Plan schemes for the provision of Central assistance to state governments and other institutions for sports-related infrastructure and equipment.

He also said that there was no proposal to establish a Sports Authority Centre in Satna in Madhya Pradesh.

''The Sports Authority of India is already running SAI Training Centres in Madhya Pradesh at Dhar, Bhopal, Tikamgarh and Jabalpur and has its regional center and a Centre of Excellence at Bhopal. It will not be feasible at this stage to open another SAI Training Centre at Satna,'' he reasoned.

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