Sports and Youth Activities

1. Grant-in-aid to H.P. Sports Council:

The Himachal Pradesh Sports Council has been constituted to boost the activities of Sports in the Pradesh. During the year 2015-16, a budget of Rs. 80.00 lacs has been allocated to run its various sports activities, which include grant-in-aid to recognized State Sports Associations, voluntary sports clubs, District Sports councils, organization of rural/women sports tournaments, coaching camps, Dr. Y.S. Parmar Memorial Volleyball tournament, and cash awards to outstanding sportspersons in the State.

2. Stipend for NIS trainees and Scholarship to Non-student Sports Persons:

An amount of Rs. 0.48 lacs was spent to provide scholarship and stipend to NIS trainees and outstanding non-student sports persons during the financial year 2014-15. An amount of Rs. 2400/- per annum per player was given to NIS trainees, whereas Rs. 1,200/- per annum per player was given to non-student sports persons of the State. The number of beneficiaries was 30 NIS trainees/non-student sports persons.

3. Organization of Coaching camps:

During the year 2014-15, coaching camps in various disciplines were organized in the State, involving more than 1500 sportspersons, with an expenditure of Rs. 10.00 lacs. Coaching was provided scientifically at various coaching centers prior to participation in various State, Sub Junior, Junior, and Senior National tournaments to the selected players of the State.

4. Purchase of Sports equipment:

During the year 2014-15, an amount of Rs. 11.03 lacs was spent on the purchase of consumable and non-consumable sports equipment for various district coaching centers, Sports Hostel Una and Bilaspur, and Indoor stadiums in Una, Shimla, Kangra, and Bilaspur.

5. Sports Hostel:

Two Sports Hostels, Una and Bilaspur, are functioning in the games of Wrestling, Athletics, Judo, Volleyball, Hockey, Handball, and Kabaddi respectively. During the financial year 2014-15, 140 sportspersons were admitted to these sports hostels, provided with free boarding, lodging, medical facilities, and sports kits by the Department. An amount of Rs. 72.10 lacs was allocated to these sports hostels during the year 2014-15.

6. Construction of playfields:

In response to public demand, an amount of Rs. 51.99 lacs was spent on the construction of playfields under (SCSP) in the Pradesh during the year 2014-15, with 52 playfields being constructed under SCSP.

7. Organization of women Sports Tournament:

The Department organized Women sports tournaments at Block, District & State Levels in games such as Badminton, Table-Tennis, Athletics, Kabaddi, Volleyball, Basketball, Hockey, Handball, and Kho-Kho under the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Abhiyan mission of GOI. The State Level women sports tournament was organized at Distt. Mandi. An amount of Rs. 34.78 lacs was spent on organizing Block, District, and State level tournaments during the year 2014-15. A total of 10,829 girls participated in these competitions during 2014-15.

8. Organization of sports for Physically challenged sports persons:

To encourage physically challenged sportspersons, the Department of Youth Services & Sports organized District & State level sports tournaments. An amount of Rs. 10.00 lacs was spent for this purpose. The State level tournament was organized at Distt. Kullu on 2nd & 3rd December 2014.

9. Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA):

Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan was launched in the year 2008-09 and renamed as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA) in February 2014. Under this scheme, the department is constructing sports infrastructure such as Indoor and Outdoor Stadiums and conducting annual competitions in ten disciplines for boys and girls. During 2014-15, Rs. 1,49,00,000/- was spent on annual competitions from Block to State level, and Rs. 2,99,20,000 was spent under the old scheme PYKKA for the purchase of sports equipment, honorarium, maintenance of sports fields, etc. Achievements at the National Level Rural Sports competition included 1 Gold Medal, 2 Bronze Medals, and 1 Silver in Boxing; 1 Silver and 4 Bronze in Judo; and 1 Bronze in Badminton. A total of 27,866 boys and girls participated in these competitions during 2014-15.

10. Financial Assistance under Central Sponsored Scheme:

The Government of India released Rs. 173.32 lacs under the centrally sponsored scheme for the organization of NSS activities during 2014-15, and Rs. 87.00 lacs was provided by the State Government for this purpose. A total of 71,500 volunteers participated in NSS activities.

11. Categorization of Sports Associations:

H.P. Sports Council, working under this Department, has categorized State Sports Associations into categories A, B, and C. During the financial year 2014-15, grants were enhanced and annual grants of Rs. 100,000/-, Rs. 75,000/-, and Rs. 50,000/- were given to the Sports Associations based on their categorization. A total of Rs. 20.00 lacs was provided as Grant-in-Aid to various associations for their activities. Special grants for organizing North Zone, Senior/Junior National level tournaments were also provided on demand.

12. Cash Award to outstanding sportspersons:

Rs. 94.00 lacs under the cash award scheme were given to 106 outstanding sportspersons who won medals at National and International sports events during 2014-15. These sportspersons were honored in State-level/ District-level Statehood/ Republic day functions throughout the State.

Youth Activities

1. Grant-in-aid to H.P. State Youth Board:

The State Youth Board provides grant-in-aid to District Youth Boards, Yuva Mandals, and Voluntary Organizations for Cultural, Sports, and adventure activities. During 2015-16, Rs. 70.00 lacs were given as grant-in-aid to the H.P. State Youth Board.

2. Organization of Work camps/Youth leadership training Camps:

Under this program, youth are involved in social activities such as levelling playfields, tree plantation, construction of mule paths, and more, aiming to eradicate social evils and involve youth in social reforms and national reconstruction activities. These camps were organized at the District level in all districts, focusing on water restoration this year. Youth leadership training camps were also organized in each district. An amount of Rs. 16.00 lacs was spent during 2014-15.

3. Training facilities in Indira Gandhi State Sports Complex at Shimla:

At Indira Gandhi Sports Complex Shimla, training facilities are available for Badminton, Judo, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Boxing, Wrestling, and Multigym. A token fee is charged from the players, and lodging facilities are also provided.

4. Establishment of Nodal Youth Clubs:

Under the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, the Department aims to establish a Nodal Youth Club in every Panchayat in a phased manner. Seventy-seven Nodal Youth Clubs have been established in each Block, functioning as units of the Department for implementing its schemes. During 2014-15, one Volunteer was deployed in each district headquarters. An amount of Rs. 47.00 lacs was released during 2014-15 to all the Districts from the State Youth Board. Youth Volunteers have been appointed in all 77 Development Blocks.

5. Organization of Youth festivals:

A sum of Rs. 26.00 lacs was spent during 2014-15, with 7850 Youth participating in One Act play, Folk Dance, Classical Vocal, Flutes, Harmonium, Tabla, Folk Song, and allied activities at District and State level Youth Festivals. The State level Youth festival was organized at Jawalaji (Kangra). Seventy-two youths from the state participated in the National Youth Festival organized in Assam from 8th January 2015 to 12th January 2015, where the state won 1st position in Kathak and 3rd position in the event of Sitar recitation.

6. National Youth Day/Week:

An amount of Rs. 4.00 lacs was spent by the Youth Board during 2014-15, with 120 youth from 10 districts participating in the State level National Youth Day held at Shimla on 19th January 2015.