Singh said that sports are an indicator of a country’s economic development and strength and the steel ministry’s CPSEs will strive to groom medal aspirants for the Olympic Games. He explained that PSUs will discharge their responsibility through infrastructural and institutional support for talent spotting, scholarships, training and coaching. Stressing on the need for institutional support to sports, the minister said the Centre’s Khelo India programme, which provides annual financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh per annum for eight years to talented players identified in priority sports disciplines, has started yielding results.

 

The minister said steel CPSEs will allocate a specific budget for sports activities, as per their financial strength which would be separated from the company’s CSR funds. He further said the steel CPSEs will encourage rural sports, sports for differently-abled and activities for homemakers by sponsoring annual and periodic sporting events. The PSUs will also sponsor national and international sporting events.

 

All the steel CPSEs will form an apex sports body which will get affiliated to National Level Sports Associations and Federations, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Para Olympic Federation and Association. Maharatna and Navaratna PSUs may set us sports academy in at least one of the identified sports discipline and maintain infrastructure there for including general fitness equipment and facilities.