The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports implements the following schemes for the development of sports in the country, including the differently-abled sportspersons:

(i) Khelo India Scheme;

(ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations;

(iii) Special Awards to Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches;

(iv) National Sports Awards;

(v) Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;

(vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Sports Welfare Fund;

(vii) National Sports Development Fund; and

(viii) Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India.

One of the verticals of the Khelo India Scheme of this Ministry, namely, “Promotion of Sports among Persons with Disabilities” is specifically dedicated to the differently-abled sportspersons. Further, under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations, funds are allocated for conducting national coaching camps, foreign exposures, national championships, purchase of equipment, the salary of coaches and sports staff, etc. for para-athletes of the country. They are provided all requisite facilities at par with other sportspersons, besides their special needs. Parasports have been placed in the ‘Priority’ category for financial assistance by the Government and all necessary assistance is provided for training and competitive exposure of the para-athletes as per the norms laid down for this purpose.

This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Thakur in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.