Parliament Question: Establishment of SAI Centre in Maharashtra

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 49 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025 Establishment of SAI Centre in Maharashtra 49. Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the plan of the Government to promote sports in the country; (b) whether the Government contemplates to promote sports especially in the rural and backward areas and if so, the details thereof; (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide equal opportunities to all talented youths in the sports; (d) the scheme of the Government for establishing a SAI centre in Maharashtra; (e) whether the Government is formulating any plan to establish such sports training centres with the assistance of Public-Private- Partnership (PPP) Model or the State Governments and if so, the details thereof; (f) whether the Government has organised any event in Maharashtra under the "Khelo India" and "Fit India Movement"; and (g) if so, the details thereof?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA] (a) to (c): ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the primary responsibility for development and promotion of sports rests with the respective State/UT Governments. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Department of Sports, through the following Schemes and initiatives, supplements the efforts of the State/UT Governments for development and promotion of sports: (i) Khelo India Scheme; (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii) Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches; (iv) National Sports Awards, (v) Pension to Meritorious Sports Persons; (vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons; (vii) National Sports Development Fund; and (viii) Running Sports training centres through Sports Authority of India (SAI). Details of these Schemes are in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and SAI. Further, through 'Khelo Bharat Niti 2025', the Government aims at reshaping the country’s sporting landscape and empowering citizens through sports. This policy supersedes National Sports Policy, 2001, and lays out a visionary and strategic roadmap to establish India as a global sporting powerhouse and a strong contender for excellence at international sporting events, including 2036 Olympic Games. Government has taken steps from time to time to promote sports especially in the rural and backward areas and also to provide equal opportunities to all talented youths by taking steps to provide financial assistance and support for various disciplines and also, for local and indigenous sports like Kho Kho, Silambam, Kabaddi, Mallakhamb,Kalaripayyattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta and Yogasana, through Khelo India Programme to promote national integration, peace and harmony through sports. Government has through Khelo India Scheme made efforts to provide equal opportunity in sports by taking the following steps:- 1. Setting up of Khelo India Centres: A number of 1057 Khelo India Centres (KICs) have been notified at the district level across the country. The Centers offer training in various sports, from athletics and wrestling to kabaddi and archery, which are popular in rural communities. These Centers cater to local talents through quality coaching, improving skills and preparation for higher levels of competition. 2. Setting up of Khelo India State Centre of Excellences (KISCE): Support is given to State facilities for filling critical gaps in equipment, providing high quality coaching, sports science manpower, all in an effort to nurture and support the children from across each State. Currently, 34 KISCEs have been notified in 33 States/UTs. 3. Through Khelo India Talent Identification and Development component at present 2808 athletes in 21 sports disciplines (including para sports) are being supported. A total of 306 academies have been accredited for the training of the Khelo India athletes (KIAs). 4. Through organization of Khelo India Games: 19 Editions of Khelo India Games have been conducted so far, which see wide participation of youth from different parts of the country. In addition to the above, SAI centres have been set up in the Rural / Backward areas of the Country which is as per the list below: Rural/ Other Region Centre Name(s) State backward areas Himachal Bilaspur Pradesh Rural Badal Punjab Rural Zirakpur Mastunasahib Punjab Rural Solalgaon Assam RuralImphal Utlou Manipur Rural Kolkata Andaman & Port Blair Nicobar Rural Hazaribagh Jharkhand Rural Sundargarh Odisha Rural Lebong West Bengal Rural Lucknow Saifai Uttar Pradesh Rural LNCPE Mayiladuthurai Tamil Nadu Rural Gurukul Ashram, Kolkata Odisha Backward Amsena, Nuapada (d): Under the Sports Promotional Schemes of SAI the details of SAI Centres in the State of Maharashtra are provided at Annexure. At present SAI has undertaken an exercise of restructuring its Sports Promotional Schemes. Given the existing sports infrastructure and financial considerations, the emphasis is currently on strengthening the capacity of the existing centres to further achieve excellence in sports. (e): At present, No such proposal is under consideration in SAI. (f) to (g): Following events have been organized in the State of Maharashtra under Khelo India Scheme: Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2019: KIYG 2019 were hosted in Maharashtra from 9th to 20th January, 2019 and saw a participation of more than 3000 athletes. Maharashtra emerged as overall champion with massive participation across 18 sports disciplines with 227 Medals (85 Gold, 61 Silver, 81Bronze). Promotion of Sports among Women: Khelo India Women League was started in 2021 to offer opportunities to women for participating & excelling in sporting activities. A total of 54 ASMITA women’s leagues with a participation of 8,132 women athletes have been organized in the State of Maharashtra.FIT INDIA Sundays on Cycle: Launched on 17th December 2024 to promote cycling as a means of staying fit and healthy. The campaign organizes events every Sunday. *****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 49 FOR 21.07.2025 ASKED BY SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT REGARDING ‘ESTABLISHMENT OF SAI CENTRE IN MAHARASHTRA’. Details of SAI schemes in the State of Maharashtra NATIONAL CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE (NCOES) SN Region/ Centre Name Disciplines Resi. Non-Resi. B G T B G T 1 Kandivali Hockey 0 34 34 0 0 0 Wrestling 30 14 44 0 0 0 TOTAL: 30 48 78 0 0 0 2 Aurangabad Archery 19 06 25 0 0 0 Archery 04 01 05 0 0 0 (Para) Boxing 13 14 27 0 0 0 Fencing 15 20 35 0 0 0 Fencing 06 02 08 0 0 0 (Para) Gymnastics 04 11 15 0 0 0 Hockey 31 0 31 0 0 0 Weightlifting 20 15 35 0 0 0 TOTAL: 112 69 181 0 0 0 G.TOTAL: 142 117 259 0 0 0 INDIGENOUS GAMES AND MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS (IGMA) S.No. Centre Name Discipline (Non- 1 Dharamaveer Sambhaji Hr. Sec. School, Malkhamb Operational) AurangabadADOPTED AKHARAS 1 Govt. Wrestling Centre, Wrestling 0 0 0 30 00 30 Kohlapur 2 Gulsachi Talim Akhara, Wrestling 0 0 0 28 02 30 Pune 3 Har Har Mahadev, Maroti Wrestling 0 0 0 27 03 30 Nagar, Dhule 4 Jai Shiv Ray Education Wrestling 0 0 0 09 21 30 Society, Kolhapur 5 Jog Maharaj Wrestling 0 0 0 00 30 30 Vyayamshala, Pune. 6 Kishanveer Akhara, Bhuij, Wrestling 0 0 0 30 00 30 Satara 7 Krida Vikas Wrestling 0 0 0 24 06 30 Vyayammandal, Sangli 8 MN Deshmukh Arts Wrestling 0 0 0 26 04 30 Science College, Ahemadnagar 9 Kolhapur Zilla Wrestling 0 0 0 30 00 30 RashtriyaTalim Kendra, Kohlapur 10 N. L. Balkwade Wrestling 0 0 0 30 00 30 Vyamshala, 102 Tilakpath, Nasik 11 Rangnath Markad Krida & Wrestling 0 0 0 27 03 30 Yuvak Mandal, Pune 12 Veer Hanuman Kala Krida, Wrestling 0 0 0 30 00 30 Sangli 13 Vishwatmak Jangli Wrestling 0 0 0 30 00 30 Maharaj Wrestling Centre,Ahamadnagar 14 Mamasaheb Mohol Kusti Wrestling 0 0 0 0 0 0 Akhara, Katraj, Pune TOTAL: 0 0 0 321 69 390