The Samikhsya Bureau
NEW DELHI: The outlay for annual budget 2021-22 of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is Rs. 2596.14 crore, as against the outlay of Rs. 1800.15 crore approved for the revised Budget Plan 2020-21.
The Union budget of 2021-22 has allocated Rs 1960.14 crore to the Department of Sports. There is a major boost to the budget allocated to the Sports Authority of India, which is the nodal agency responsible for providing financial support to elite athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympics scheduled in July 2021.
A budgetary increase in the National Sports Federations (NSFs) will also assist further in supporting the Olympic preparation of Indian athletes.
Briefing the media here on Wednesday about the budget, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju said, “This is the Olympic year and Olympic preparation is the major thrust of the Government right now. The big boost in SAI and NSFs budget will ensure that there is no shortage of funds and Olympic preparation is on in full swing. We are preparing in the best way possible.”
Whatever is required by the athletes or any federation for training of players will be provided and there is no crisis of funds, he assured
SAI has been allocated Rs 660.41 crores, a 32.08 percent rise in allocated budget as compared to the Budget Estimate of 2020-21.
Secretary, Department of Sports, Ravi Shri Mittal said that the substantial increase will lead to higher spends in the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition, which is used to fund the training of athletes.
NSFs have received an allocation of Rs 280 crore, with a hike of 14.28 percent over the budget estimate of 2020-21, he informed.
The budget for the government’s flagship Khelo India programme has also seen a 72.04 percent increase in budget estimate as compared to revised estimate for the year current year, he added.
Secretary of Department of Youth Affairs, Usha Sharma was also present in the media briefing.
