75 sports infrastructure projects at a combined sanctioned cost of Rs.520.60 crore approved for the North-Eastern Region

New Delhi, Aug 04, 2023, PIB

In an oral reply to a Parliament question on Sports Infrastructure
Facilities in North East Region , Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports
Shri Anurag Singh Thakur said that the Sports infrastructure in the
North-eastern region has witnessed a remarkable transformation in
the last nine years under the leadership of Prime Minister , Shri
Narendra Modi. With the shift from 'Look East Policy' to 'Act East
Policy,' the Government has given special emphasis and impetus to
sports infrastructure in the North-east region, Sh Anurag Thakur
said. He also said that the first national Sports University of the
country has been allocated to the northeast state of Manipur at a
total sanctioned cost of Rs.643.34 crore.
He further said that 1000 Khelo India centres will be dedicated to
the country this year itself , out of which 227 Khelo India Centres
are being established in the North-east.
He also informed that the Ministry has approved 75 sports
infrastructure projects at a combined sanctioned cost of Rs.520.60

crore . 3 National Centres of Excellence, 12 SAI Training Centres
and 22 Khelo India accredited Sports Academies are already
functional in the North-Eastern States, he said.
Highlighting the contribution of the North-East to sports, the Minister
said that sportspersons hailing from the north east have brought
laurels to the country especially women sportspersons like Mary Kom
, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain. He also hailed the
contribution of sportspersons Bhaichung Bhutia and Shiva Thapa.
Speaking further, Shri Anurag Thakur said that Government, under
the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), is supporting
athletes under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for many of
their foreign training camps, including costs incurred for travel, and
lodging among other expenditures.
He said that under the Khelo India Scheme, services of several
champion ex-athletes are being utilised at Khelo India Centres to
promote sports at the grassroots level in the region.
Speaking on the facilities in the state of Nagaland he said that the
Central Government is making all possible efforts to support
development of sports in the states through Viability Gap Funding
and handholding the States wherever necessary.
He also remarked that all essential steps are being taken to support
the NE States, and the Government is positively and continuously
sanctioning the proposals received from the NE, including Nagaland.
Under Khelo India Scheme, the second Khelo India Games were
held in Guwahati, he added. .
In his oral reply on the question of Specially abled atheletes he
said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi, there has been a behavioural shift in the way differently abled
people are perceived and treated. The change in nomenclature from

'Viklang' to 'Divyang' or 'Specially-abled' was a significant step in
the right direction.
He also said that Equality in opportunities, facilities, and treatment
are being provided to all athletes, be it Para-athletes, Deaf
athletes, or Special athletes. He remarked that we are proud of all
our athletes, who are a source of inspiration and pride for the
nation, and the Government is leaving no stone unturned in
supporting them.