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Khelo India funds for sports infrastructure in states


Khelo India funds for sports infrastructure in states
The Central Government is aiding sports infrastructure projects in different states under its flagship Khelo India Programme. At the outset, it is important here to note that since sports is a state subject, the responsibility of developing sports infrastructure rests with the State Governments and the Central role is to supplement the state efforts by bridging the gap.
The Khelo India scheme was launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the year 2016-17 and it was revamped as Khelo India- National Programme for development of Sports which is being implemented from 2017-18 for a period of 3 years with a cumulative financial outlay for 3 years being Rs 1756 cr. Out of this, a total of Rs. 435 crore has been earmarked for the vertical Utilization and creation of sports infrastructure.


A look at the numbers for 2018-19 from the statements laid by the Ministry in the Lok Sabha  shows that the top 4 states which have received  the maximum funding under this vertical are UP(Rs 43.43 crores), Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 39.50 crores), Maharashtra (Rs 19.87 Crores) and Manipur (Rs 19.15  Crores). That two states from the north- east are among the top 4 is itself a positive development.

However, the amount released by the Central Government has to be effectively utilized by the State Government. Glancing through the numbers for 2017-18 (since such data for 2018-19 is not available), the amount of UCs (Utilization Certificates) pending is the largest for Arunachal Pradesh where a whooping Rs. 13 crores were not utilized out of the allocated Rs 15.25 crore. Shocking also is that for the states of Telangana & Gujarat, UCs are pending for 100% of the released funds of Rs Rs. 6.5 crores and 5.5 crores respectively. Besides, the states of Rajasthan and Karnataka have also not utilized Rs. 7.5 crores and Rs. 6.75 crores respectively.
Further, it is perturbing that no funds have been released for 2018-19 or 2019-20(as of 31.10.2019) for the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Telangana, Tripura and all of the UTs other than Puducherry. However, the responsibility for this is definitely solely not on centre. The state governments cannot also be absolved from this. For example, the state of Bihar had been sanctioned 1 sports infrastructure project in 2018-19 which was Multipurpose Indoor Hall at Nawada. However, as per the statement given by Centre, funds could not be transferred due to non-fulfilment of electronic payment system compliances by the Bihar State Sports Authority!  Similarly, for the state of Chhattisgarh, 100% of the released fund of Rs 2.5 crore had remained unutilized for the year 2017-18. Besides, for the state of Jharkhand, only 2 proposals were submitted by the state government out of which 1 project had already been sanctioned by the Centre earlier.
Though the funds are not being released statewise but projectwise, the coordinated role of both State government and Central Government cannot be highlighted more. Time has now come that the state governments are also made accountable for the proposals they send, the approved projects and effective utilization of released funds.


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