Government mulling expanding CSR scope to include sports promotion

NEW DELHI: Government is considering widening the scope of CSR activities to include promotion of sports, including indigenous ones, through corporate funding, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel said his Ministry has taken up with Corporate Affairs Ministry the issue of widening the scope of Corporate Social Responsibilty (CSR) activities in sports promotion by revising the existing norms.

"The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports took up with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs the issue of widening the scope of CSR activities in sports promotion by revising the existing entry in either promotion and development of sports and promotion of rural sports, nationally recognised sports, paralympics sports and olympic sports.

"The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has on July 19, 2016 intimated that the changes proposed by this Ministry would be examined by them while reviewing amendments to schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013," he said in reply to a written question.

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, he said government was opening up five academies in different sports soon and another eight would be opened later in which football can also be included for having a centre of excellence.

Goyal said government will hold sports promotion activities in 30 cities and proposes to provide football coaches in 25,000 schools across the country.

He said the Ministry has also launched "Target Podium" scheme to help promote excellence in sports.

Goyal also informed the House that Neeraj Chopra has created a new world record in Javelin throw and congratulated him for the achievement.