Skip to main content

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.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Deconstructing the ban on Shakib Al Hasan

One of the best all-rounders of our times, former Bangladeshi Captain Shakib Al Hasan has been banned for 2 years with 1 year of suspended sentence by ICC for breaching its Anti-Corruption Code . He could resume his cricketing career on October 29, 2020. The question of jurisdiction: The question of jurisdiction pertains to 2 aspects: Mr Al Hasan being subject to the ICC code and ICC having the jurisdiction to probe all the violations(both domestic and international). Firstly, by virtue of Mr Al Hasan's selection in international matches for Bangladesh Cricket Board, he constituted a Participant for the purposes of the code. Thus he was automatically bound by the Code and under the jurisdiction of ICC.  Secondly, in the present case, since the violations pertained to both international and domestic matches, a question arose as to whether any one body (BCCI or ICC) will take the required action for all violations or whether each body would take action for violation
Post a Comment
Read more

The menace of Age Fraud

The country recently witnessed a shock in the form of U-19 Cricket World Cup Final Man of the Match Manjot Kalra being handed a one year ban by DDCA from all Ranji Games on account of age fraud. Pick up any sport in India and you would see the menace of age fraud mushrooming in all of them. Consider badminton for example. Celebrated badminton prodigies and upcoming players including sub junior national  champions  have allegedly been  found  overage. As per a writ petition filed in Karnataka High Court, allegations have been made that in a case, a boy who stated that he was born in 2005 was found by CBSE Vigilance committee to be admitted in school in 2005 itself! Now consider Athletics. As recently as December 2019, 51 youngsters were found over-age in National Inter-District Junior Meet. Moving over to football, 2018 saw Indian Super League's "youngest" goal-scorer Gaurav Mukhi being found overage (possibly 21) instead of the stated 16! Even this year, there
Post a Comment
Read more