1,000 district-level KICS to be established
After deciding to set up Khelo
India State Centres of Excellence, the Sports Ministry has now planned to extend its support to grassroots sports by establishing 1,000 districtlevel Khelo India Centres (KICS) that will be helmed by former sportspersons, starting with 100 in the current nancial year.
These centres will either be run by a past champion on their own or coopt them as coaches, ensuring a livelihood for former sportspersons and including them in India’s sporting development. However, the sportspersons will have to personally be involved in imparting fulltime training at the centre to avail government grant.
“Only when sports can oer a sustained means of livelihood to athletes even after they stop playing will parents be motivated to allow their children to take up sports as a career. This decision is a step in that direction,” Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said.
Financial grant would include remunerations, purchase of equipment, sports kits, consumables and participation in competitions in archery, athletics, boxing, badminton, cycling, fencing, hockey, judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, football and traditional sports.
GANESAN