Budget cut for sports

The ministry of youth affairs and sports has been allocated Rs 1,121 crore in the annual budget for 2011-12, which is nearly one-third of last year's 3,315.67 crore.

In his budget presented on Monday, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee allocated 1,000 crore as plan outlay and 121 crore as non-plan.

Expectedly, this year's budget allocation has seen a sharp reduction, as the last two years' outlay was high due to the Commonwealth Games.

Last year, the budget allocation was 3315.67 crore, while in 2009-10, it was 3,670.13 crore.

Out of the total outlay, 688.67 crore has been allocated for sports and games, while 311.39 crore has been earmarked for youth welfare schemes.

Other programmes, including schemes for the benefit of northeastern areas and Sikkim, will get 106 crore.

The remaining 14.52 crore has been allocated under the head 'secretariat-social services'.

Under the sports and games head, the Sports Authority of India will get the highest amount of 287 crore, while 100 crore has been earmarked for assistance to national sports federations -- as against 112 crore last year.

Rs 14.50 crore has been allocated for anti-doping activities, which is just 50 lakh more than last year. The National Dope Testing Laboratory will get 12 crore, 50 lakh more than last year.

Laxmibai National Institute of Physical Education in Gwalior has been allocated a separate 24.63 crore, while Rs six crore has been earmarked for incentive to sportspersons.

The various schemes under the Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) will get 205 crore, while 35 crore has been earmarked for Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme.

There was no allocation for National Sports Development Fund this year as against 15 crore and 8.12 crore in 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively.

Among the various heads of youth welfare schemes, the highest amount of 123.40 crore has been earmarked for Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, while the National Service Scheme will get 87.87 crore.

The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development has been allocated 10.80 crore.