NEW DELHI: The Union Panchayati Raj Ministry proposes synergising the activities of the Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan with panchayats across the country for promoting sports and games.

Called Panchayati Yuva Khel Abhiyan, the initiative aims at propelling the country and increasing medals' tally that plays an important part in boosting national self-esteem and securing international recognition.

"If in the international arena, India's showing is the most pathetic among all countries of comparable size, that has a great deal to do with talent-spotting and talent-nurturing being confined to a very small fraction of our total youth population," a concept note by Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said.

As Central scheme

It is proposed that the Panchayati Raj Ministry, in association with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, launch the initiative as a Centrally sponsored scheme through the network of Panchayati Raj Institutions with the local units of the Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan.

The proposal suggests a one-time grant of Rs. 1,250 crore at the rate of Rs. 50,000 per village panchayat for five years, and a recurring grant of Rs. 1,600 crore over the five years, to be shared between the Centre and the State, as also through contributions from community and private donors.

Other schemes

A substantial portion of the one-time grant could be met from other schemes such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (for laying playgrounds), the Backward Regions Grant Fund, the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana, Swaranajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, the 12th Finance Commission Grants and the State Finance Commission Grants.

Besides encouraging traditional sports and games,the proposal suggests inclusion of these sports, involving high levels of skill and talent, in the modern disciplines of the International Olympics Association and related international federations.

To spot talent

To spot and nurture talent, the proposal suggests that the Sports Authority India (SAI) prepare a supplementary scheme to provide coaches for the conduct of the Abhiyan, both in terms of day-to-day coaching as well as talent hunting at the village, block and district levels through competitions.

"It is estimated that if we succeed in identifying an average of 10 talented sportspersons in each of our 6,000 blocks, in addition to the SAI's present plans of expanding its talent base at very little extra cost from 10,000 to 40,000 people, we would have a reservoir of one lakh talented sportspersons," Mr. Aiyar's concept paper pointed out.

No access to sports

According to the Union Youth Affairs andSports Ministry and the University Grants Commission figures, of the 800 million youth 700 million have no or marginal access to sports and games facilities.

Of these, at least 450 million live in rural India.

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