India needs Rs 7000 crore for block-level sports infrastructure

KOLKATA: India will require a sum of Rs 7,000 crore to create block and village level basic sports infrastructure across the country.

"We will need Rs 7,000 crore to create sports infrastructure at block level across the country," Union Minister of State of Sports and Youth Affairs, Sarbananda Sonowal said here today at SoulAce and Indian Chamber of Commerce organised CSR summit here.

He said they have over 6000 blocks and over six lakh villages and government intended to create sports infrastructure that can be connected to each village to spot the talents at the remotest.

States will have to provide the land and for each block level sports complex 5-6 acres of land is required, the minister said.

It is estimated that corporates' CSR contribution was 0.8 per cent of the profit India.Inc makes before the mandate of two per cent was incorporated in the new Companies Act.

And out of this contribution, just 5 per cent is spent on sports development.

In this backdrop, Sonowal urged corporates to come forward in support of the project and sports.

According to minister, Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme which aims to increase the country's medal tally at Rio 2016 and identify potential future stars for Tokyo 2020 has already selected 75 prospective athletes.

The government identified seven sports like boxing, athletics, archery, badminton, weightlifting, wrestling, and shooting in the future and was seeking corporate sponsorships to support special training and mentoring.

Disability sports center and sports university were among other programmes of the government.

Union Minister of State of Social justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar also pointed out efforts of the government and said corporates should help in CSR activity.