The Hindu : Special incentives for sportspersons from N-E States

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 18, 2002

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Special incentives for sportspersons from N-E States

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI Aug. 17. The success of sportspersons from the north-eastern States in the recent Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom has prompted the Government to provide special incentives for the northeast and other special category States in the field of sports.

This would provide up to 90 per cent of the funds for sports infrastructure schemes as grants as against 75 per cent Central Government funding earlier.

The change in the funding pattern has been carried out by the Planning Commission to help establish better sports infrastructure facility in the States with difficult terrain.

In a communication to the Youth and Sports Minister, Uma Bharati, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, K.C. Pant, said sportspersons in the northeast and other special category States, including the hilly areas of non-special category States would benefit from the initiative.

He said he had been encouraged to make the change as a result of the success achieved by sportspersons from this region in the recent Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

During the Tenth Plan period, private and public schools would be eligible for grants from the scheme.

New rural schools situated in these areas would be eligible for a maximum grant of Rs. 2.5 lakhs while rural schools in other areas could seek grants up to Rs. two lakhs for setting up sports infrastructure.

According to an official release a maximum financial assistance of Rs. 1.5 lakhs would be admissible for laying and re-laying of hockey surface and athletic track.

Synthetic surfaces for badminton, basketball, tennis and volleyball would now be eligible for financial assistance up to Rs. 50 lakhs.

The ceiling for Central assistance for the development of sport infrastructure in Government schools for special category States and notified hilly and tribal areas during the Tenth Plan would be Rs. 9 lakhs and Rs. 7.5 lakhs for the other areas as against Rs. five lakhs or 50 per cent of the estimated cost whichever is less during the Ninth Plan.

In addition, Rs. 50 lakhs would be provided as financial assistance for the installation of floodlights.

The release said the Deputy Chairman has committed himself for the strengthening of the schemes in the subsequent plans if after an evaluation it is established that the programme has been carried out successfully to benefit sports enthusiasts.

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