Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 Promotes Inclusive Sports Infrastructure, With Focus on Tribal and Marginalized Groups
The objectives of Khelo Bharat Niti-2025 inter-alia include to ensure equitable access to sports infrastructure across the country and to establish comprehensive sports programs for all participation groups, from grassroots to elite levels including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, rural areas and women athletes from around the country, and promote social development and inclusion through sports.
It includes provisions to establish dedicated sports facilities with services tailored to their specific needs to foster inclusivity and increase participation in sports among women, persons with disabilities and economically weaker sections in sports.
It also has provisions to organize regular sporting leagues, designed specifically for these groups, to enhance engagement and provide sustained opportunities for involvement.
It also focuses on bridging the rural-urban gap by improving access to sports training and facilities for athletes from all backgrounds. The policy emphasizes the integration of sports with school curricula, community participation, and partnerships with stakeholders to reduce training costs and increase outreach. Presently, under the ASMITA – Sports for Women initiative, the Government supports conduct of leagues for women especially in underserved areas.
Sports being a State subject, the responsibility of development and promotion of sports including providing support for participation of athletes, rests primarily with the State Governments, and the Central Government only supplements their efforts.
The Central Government provides support /financial assistance in the form of expert coaches, sports equipment, boarding, lodging, sports kit, competition exposure (Domestic and Foreign), educational expenses, miscellaneous expenditure, Insurance and Contingencies including travelling to selected athletes as per the approved norms of Sports promotional schemes.
Further, under the Khelo India program, comprehensive support, which entail funding of ₹6.28 lakhs per annum per Khelo India Athlete (including ₹10,000 per month out-of-pocket allowance for each KIA) is provided for training of Khelo India Athletes. Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF), the Central Government also provides support to athletes for participation in international tournaments.
This information was given by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply in Rajya Sabha yesterday
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Ayushman Kumar