Union Cabinet approves revamped `Khelo India Programme’

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Union Cabinet chaired by Pm Narendra Modi on September 20, 2017, approved the revamped `Khelo India Programme’ at a cost of Rs 1,756 crore for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20. This marks a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports as the programme aims at mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and national development.

The revamped Khelo India Programme would impact the entire sports ecosystem including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition structure and sports economy, according to a PIB release.

The programme includes an unprecedented Pan Indian Sports Scholarship scheme, which would cover 1,000 most talented young athletes each year across select sports disciplines. Each athlete selected under the scheme shall receive an annual scholarship worth Rs 5 lakh for 8 consecutive years. This is the first time ever that a long-term athlete development pathway would be made available to gifted and talented youngsters to excel in competitive sports and will create a pool of highly competitive athletes who can compete to win at the world stage, according to the PIB release.

The programme aims to promote 20 universities across the country as hubs of sporting excellence, which would enable talented sports persons to pursue the dual pathway of education and competitive sports. It strives to promote “Sports for All” as well as “Sports for Excellence.”