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New Delhi : National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) of Department of Sports, M/o YAS, signed an MoU with Coal India Limited (CIL) in the presence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports (YAS) Anurag Singh Thakur on September 7, 2021, in New Delhi for contribution of Rs 75 crore by CIL towards NSDF as part of CSR.
Minister of State for YAS Nisith Pramanik, Secretary of Department of Sports Ravi Mittal, and officers of Coal India Limited were also present on the occasion.
Thakur, during his address, said that the valuable contribution by Coal India to NSDF has come at an appropriate time in the backdrop of unprecedented performance by our sportspersons at the recent Olympics and Paralympics. He congratulated the Indian athletes for their best ever performance at the Paralympics winning 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, according to a PIB release.
Appreciating the initiative of Coal India, Thakur said that with this a part of the funds generated from mining of coal will go to chisel our sportspersons into ‘diamonds’ that deliver a podium finish. Giving more details, Thakur said that the fund will be used to promote sports in general and specific sports disciplines for achieving excellence at the national and international level. The Fund will also be judiciously used for modernisation and development of infrastructure.
In the previous years, a number of PSUs have generously contributed to NSDF. “The sports academies under SAI and LNIPE needed more hostels for the benefit of athletes. Coal India Ltd’s endeavor to contribute a substantial fund of Rs 75 crore towards construction of three hostels for sports athletes will bring ease of training and enhanced facilities,.” Thakur added.
Thakur further said that the signing of MOU for construction of three hostels on SAI academies at Bangalore, Bhopal, and LNIPE Gwalior will strengthen the bond between the Department of Sports / NSDF and Coal India Ltd. The Minister proposed that Sports Authority of India and Coal India Limited should jointly set up a Sports Academy for furthering the cause of sporting culture in the country.
Thakur appealed to all PSUs, corporates, and individuals to come forward and contribute generously to the NSDF as part of their corporate social responsibility and become stakeholders in India’s journey to becoming a sporting powerhouse.
MoS Nisith Pramanik said that Coal India Ltd has always supported the culture of competitive sports in India. He assured that the funds provided by CIL will be used judiciously and the project will be completed in a time bound manner.
Secretary, Sports, Mittal said that with the construction of hostels in these three academies, it will be possible to hold national coaching camps at these three locations. He urged Coal India to continue their valuable support to NSDF in the future also.
Secretary, Coal, Anil Jain, said that it’s a matter of pride for Coal India to contribute to sports development in the country. While it is their duty to support the talented sportspersons, it also contributes to the brand image of Coal India, he said.
Contribution to NSDF has mainly come from PSUs and PSBs. As on March 31, 2021, total CSR contributions received are Rs 170 crore and Governmentof India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, has made contribution of Rs 164 crore itsmatching share.
From this fund, the Ministry has given assistance to organisations for infrastructure and setting up of academies, Assistance to sportspersons for their customised training and to Sports Authority of India (SAI) for athletes covered under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).