New Delhi:(Page3 News Network)-The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that the “Talent Search & Training Scheme” is implemented for providing financial assistance to athletes who include national champions of the current year and those who won medals of Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. The assistance is provided for their customized training, equipment and scientific support. The details of sportspersons assisted under the Scheme Relating to Talent Search and Training (SRTST) is at Annexure.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Jitendra Singh said, financial assistance is also provided for advance training to Indian Coaches and other support staff. Apart from the above, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is running the following schemes:-
(i) National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC): Children in the age group of 8 to 14 years are trained in indigenous games & martial arts;
(ii) Army Boys Sports Company Scheme (ABSC): Children in the age group of 8 to 16 are imparted training in 13 sports disciplines;
(iii) SAI’s Training Centres (STC): There are 58 STC residential training Centres across the country and children in the age group of 12 to 18 are imparted training in 28 sports disciplines.
(iv) Scheme of Special Area Games(SAG): Children in the age group of 12 to 18 years from tribal, rural and coastal areas of the country are imparted training in modern competitive sports on both residential and non-residential basis. There are 20 SAG Centres across the country.
(v) Centre of Excellence (COE): Under the scheme, trainees in the age group of 12 to 25 are imparted training. Under the COE, those sportspersons who have shown performance at National level competitions are trained for preparing national teams for international mega events like Olympic, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.
Under these schemes, free board & lodging facilities, sports kit, sports equipment, and competition exposure are provided. Non-residential trainees are given monthly stipend in place of boarding & lodging. In the Centre of Excellence, the trainees are provided with the state of art facilities, equipment, and scientific backup along with specialized training.
(vi) Further, “Come and Play Scheme’ was introduced in 2011-12 for spotting and nurturing talent in the age group of 8-17 years in the SAI’s stadia in Delhi and its regional centres in different parts of the country in popular sports disciplines like Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Fencing, Football, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Kabaddi, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo & Wrestling.
In addition, advance and specialized training is given to elite athletes for participating in international tournaments including Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. Sportspersons from various parts of the country can benefit from the schemes mentioned above, but state-wise allocation of funds is not made, the Minister added.
