Sports Ministry to open 143 new Khelo India Centres across seven states

The Union Sports Ministry, in June 2020, had planned to open up 1,000 new Khelo India Centres over four years, with at least one centre in each district of the country.

Published : May 25, 2021 13:05 IST

The Khelo India centres will cater to one sports discipline each and will be set up across Maharashtra, Mizoram, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

The Union Sports Ministry has given the go-ahead for a total of 143 Khelo India Centres across seven states on Monday with a budget estimate of Rs 14.30 crores.

The centres will cater to one sports discipline each and will be set up across Maharashtra, Mizoram, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

The Sports Ministry, in June 2020, had planned to open up as many as 1,000 new Khelo India Centres over a period of four years, with at least one centre in each district of the country.

An exception was made for the North-East states, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Ladakh where two centres are expected to be established per district.

 

The respective state governments will now have to hire former athletes to facilitate the management of these centres in a proposed low-cost and effective sports training mechanism.

Financial assistance will be provided for the remuneration of the past champion athletes as coach, support staff, purchase of equipments, sports kits, consumables, participation in competition and events.

The Khelo India Centres have been launched by the Sports Ministry in partnership with the state governments to ensure the availability of grassroot-level sports infrastructure across the country.

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Speaking about the decision, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju said: “It is our endeavour to make India one among the top 10 countries in the 2028 Olympics. To fulfill this goal we need to identify and nurture a large number of talented sportspersons from an early age. With the availability of good coaches and equipment facilities at the district-level Khelo India Centers, I am confident that we will be able to find the right children for the right sport and at the right time.” 

States-wise Khelo India centres bifurcation:

Maharashtra - Opening of 36 Khelo India Centres in 30 districts with a budget estimate of Rs. 3.60 Crores.

 Mizoram - Opening of 2 Khelo India Centres in Kolasib district with a budget estimate of Rs. 20 Lakhs.

Arunachal Pradesh- Opening of 52 Khelo India Centres in 26 districts with a budget estimate of Rs 4.12 Crores.

Madhya Pradesh - Opening of 4 Khelo India Centres with a budget estimate of Rs 40 Lakhs.

Karnataka - Opening of 31 Khelo India Centres with a budget estimate of Rs. 3.10 Crores.

Manipur - Opening of 16 Khelo India Centres with a budget estimate of Rs. 1.60 Crores.

Goa - Opening of 2 Khelo India Centres with a budget estimate of Rs. 20 Lakhs.