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The sporting culture in India is all set to gain momentum, as the Narendra Modi government gets ready to launch the ‘Khelo India’ programme at the national level. Under this broad-based sports programme, a scheme will be made to boost investments for overall infrastructural developments.
The human capital in India is well spread and diverse. The sporting arena at the junior levels manifests itself in its full glory. The need of the hour is to nurture this talent.
The Khelo India programme is a very definitive step in this direction by the current government.
Rajyavardhan Rathore, Union Sports Minister, said, "After the Khelo India's inaugural event, we will select 1,000 players, who are unable to attain sponsorship. The Government of India will be their sponsors. We will provide Rs 5 lakh per year to these players for eight years.”
"Every year, the government will be adding 1,000 players to the pool. We are expecting to have over 5,000 players in the next five years. We have assigned Rs 250 crore in the budget to meet the target," Rathore added.
The ‘Khelo India’ programme will see participation from across the nation. All the players will be selected from school-level competitions.The government will fund every player's stay, food, travel, and the programme will be telecast live for six days.
Arun Pandey, owner of Rhiti Sports one of the leading sports management companies in the country, during his address at the fourth Junior Super Kings inter-school T20 tournament, said that the sports ministry is doing a great job by promoting a healthy sporting culture in the country. He also believes that this initiative will make sports accessible to the aspiring players across the country.
Talking about the importance of fitness, Mr Pandey said, “You can be mentally sound only if you are physically fit.”
With ‘Khelo India’, the Centre envisions to make sports more accessible for people living in remote areas, providing them greater opportunities to become professionals.
