It was a spectacular
show for India in 2002 with its best ever performance at any international
event having secured the 4th position at the 17th
Commonwealth Games at Manchester. In the games held from
25th July to 4th August, 2002, India reaped
a rich haul of 69 medals with 30 Gold, 22 Silver, and 17 Bronze.
The grand achievement is a result of dedication and commitment
of the sports persons and systematic and sustained training provided
to them.
The year opened with
the successful completion of the National Youth Festival at Hisar,
Haryana from January 12th to Jan 16th ,
2002. The Festival with its theme "Youth for Peace, Friendship
and Development" provided a common platform to the youth of the
country to express their creative energy and talents. The inauguration
coincided with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January
12th which is observed as the National Youth Day. During the opening
ceremony National Youth Awards for the year 2000-2001 were distributed
among 24 youth from different states as well as to one organisation
working in the field of youth development. The festival is jointly
hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with support
from Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme
(NSS) and State Government, this time Haryana.
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR YOUTH
National Commission
For Youth was set up on March 15th, 2002 to reorient
and reorganize the ongoing youth programmes to increase their
effectiveness and take fresh initiatives when required. The problem
of youth unemployment with stress on the North-East was given
particular attention.
NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION CORPS
To rekindle the
spirit of voluntary social work among the youth, Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports had launched the scheme of National Reconstruction
Corps in the year 2000 in 80 districts across the country. Fresh
impetus was given to it in the year 2002 when 40 more districts
were added to the scheme with a total budget allocation of Rs.
18 crore. Under the scheme a Project Officer and 100 volunteers
in each selected district are being engaged to implement 8 centrally
sponsored schemes of the Government of India. A meeting of District
Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners was held in April 2002 in 76
districts with a view to review the progress achieved.
NEHRU YUVA KENDRA SANGATHAN
Nehru Yuva Kendra
Sangathan undertook a programme of national awakening and development
titled "Hum Karen Rashtra Aradhana" throughout the country. Under
this programme one of the campaigns was the organisation of Rashtriya
Yuva Yatras from four corners of the country. The focus was to
undertake mass contact on various issues of social and national
importance including terrorism. The yatra covered 1252 Kms. in
125 districts of 21 States and concluded in New Delhi on 11.2.2002.
Two hundred cyclists were felicitated on the occasion.
All INDIA COUNCIL
OF SPORTS
The Ministry
of Youth Affairs & Sports has set up an All India Council
of Sports to advise the Ministry on policy issues regarding promotion
and development of sports. It advises the Government on preparations
for holding mega sports events and to create an opinion among
international sports organisations in the favour of India. It
also gives advice on steps to implement National Sports Policy
on issues pertaining to functioning of National Sports Federation
and effective functioning of state sports academies. The objective
of the Council is better coordination between sports bodies and
the Sports Ministry.
ARJUNA AWARD
SCHEME REVISED
The Ministry
of Youth Affairs & Sports has made major amendments to the
scheme for Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in sports
and games. The objectives of the Award, as per the revised scheme,
are to recognize outstanding performance of sports persons in
the field of sports at international level only. The categories
for the awards are Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games,
World Cup, World Championship disciplines and Cricket. As far
as the prize money is concerned, it has been raised to Rs. 3 lakh
from Rs. 1.50 lakh. As an added incentive, Arjuna awardees were
given 50% concession in domestic air travel valid for six return
trips in a year. Major changes have been incorporated in selection
procedure with the Chairperson of the Selection Committee being
a sports person of eminence. The other 12 members would be distinguished
in the field of sports.
MoU WITH FICCI
A memorandum
of understanding was signed by the Sports Authority of India(SAI)
and FICCI in April 2002 for Government - Industry partnership
in sports and to make it reach world standards. It was signed
for a period of three years upto 31 March 2005.
STATE SPORTS
ACADEMIES
It is proposed
to set up a Sports Academy in every state in partnership with
the corporate sector. The aim is to select best talent in sports
in the age group of 10-13 years and groom them to achieve excellence
at national and international level. The cost of setting up the
Academy will be shared by the sponsor, the central government
and the state government in the ratio of 51:25:24.
SCHEMES
As a result
of Zero-Based Budgeting exercise undertaken this year all the
schemes of the Ministry are being merged into six umbrella schemes
on the recommendation of the Planning Commission viz.
- Schemes relating to Institutions:
Sports Authority of India, Lakshmibai National Institute of
Physical Education and All India Council for Physical Education
have been merged in this scheme.
- Scheme relating to events:
Assistance to National Sports Federations, Promotion of
Sports Among Disabled and Exchange of Sports & Physical
Education Team Experts have been merged in this scheme.
- Schemes for Incentive
for promotion of Sport activities: Sports Fund for
Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons, Promotion of Sports
and Games in Schools, Sports Scholarship Scheme, Rural Sports
Programme and National Sports Development Fund have been merged
in this scheme.
- Schemes relating to Infrastructure:
This scheme has four components.
- Grants for Creation of Sports
Infrastructure
- Grants to Rural Schools
for Sports Equipment and Playground
- Grants for Promotion of
Sports in Universities and College and
- Grant for Installation of
Synthetic Playing Surfaces.
(v) Schemes
relating to talent search and training
- Schemes relating to Awards:
The scheme has two components:
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award: The outlay for 10th Five Year Plan has
been kept at 0.35 crores and the annual plan outlay for
the year 2002-03 is Rs.7 crores.
- Special cash award to winners
in International Sports Events: The total 10th
Plan outlay under this component of the scheme is Rs.
12.50 crores.
|
Award
|
10th
Five Year Plan Outlay
|
2002-2003
Outlay
|
2003-2004
outlay (proposed)
|
|
1. Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna Award
|
Rs.0.35 crore
|
Rs. 0.07 crore
|
Rs. 0.07 crore
|
|
2. Special
Awards to Winners in International Sports Events
|
Rs. 12.50 crore
|
Rs.1.80crore+
Rs.0.7 crores
(North-East)
|
Rs. 1.80 crore+
Rs.0.7 crore (North-East)
|
ASIAN GAMES
The XIV Asian
Games were held at Busan, South Korea from 29th September
to 14th October, 2002. The Indian contingent participated
in 25 disciplines comprising of 426 sports persons and supporting
personnel. Our sportspersons won 35 medals (10 Gold, 12 Silver
and 13 Bronze Medals). The performance of Indian contingent is
best ever in any Asian Games held abroad .
FIRST AFRO-ASIAN
GAMES
India has taken
the lead to organize the first Inter-Continental Games, involving
the continents of Asia and Africa. The first Afro-Asian Games
are now scheduled to be held at Delhi from 24th October
to 1st November 2003. The games will be held in eight
disciplines- (1) Athletics, (2) Football, (3) Boxing, (4) Shooting,
(5) Swimming, (6) Tennis, (7) Hockey (M & W), and (8) Weightlifting
(M&W).
Sports infrastructure
and preparations for the inaugural Afro-Asian Games to be held
in New Delhi are in advanced stage. Major works are being carried
out at the SAI Stadia in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi
Stadium, Major Dhyanchand National Stadium, Dr. Shyamaprasad MukherjeeTalkatora
Swimming Pool, and Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges.
For participation
in these Games, 42 countries from Asia and 53 countries from Africa
have been invited and about 2650 athletes and contingent officials
are expected to participate in the Games from both the Continents.
NATIONAL YOUTH
FESTIVAL 2003
The VIIIth National
Youth Festival will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from
January 12 to 16, 2003. Major initiatives have been taken to ensure
the successful handling of the festival. It is expected that approximately
2,500-3,000 young persons will participate in the festival this
year. The festival with the theme "Yuva aivam Vishwa Chunauti"
will have competitions in 16 individual items and two groups items.
In the year went
by Arjuna Awards were conferred on 14 sports persons for
the year 2001, Dronacharya Award were conferred on two
coaches for 2002, Indira Gandhi NSS Awards to 24 sports
persons.
In a major achievement
Mrs. Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat, Rifle Shooter, has qualified for
the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. She had participated in ISSF World
Cups at Sydney and Shanghai during March 2002 and won a Silver
medal each in Air Rifle (W) event.
A new scheme relating
to Dope Test has been introduced this year with an outlay of Rs.
1.50 crores in the current financial year. It aims to prevent
drug abuse in sports by providing technical facility for dope
test, creating awareness amongst athlete, parents, coaches and
doctors. In a major achievement this year, the Sports Authority
of India's Dope Control Centre (DCC) was given the ISO 9001: 2000
Certificate. The DCC is being utilized to test urine samples of
sports persons to deter stimulants (55), Narcotics(7); Anabolic
Agents (55), Diuretics (20), Beta Blockers (25) and Peptide hormones
and analogues (7). With the achievement of ISO 9001 Certificate;
SAI has already initiated the process for ISO 17025 Certification.
With a view to solve
the increasing problem of doping in sports , the Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports is joining hands with sports Ministries of
other countries to be a party of World Anti Doping Association
Organization. In this regard, UNESCO has called for a meeting
of the Sports Ministers across the world in January 2003.
