Rural sports in NE to be developed under PYKKA scheme: Govt

New Delhi: In a bid to promote rural sports in North Eastern states, the central government will provide a

one-time capital grant of Rs five lakh and Rs one lakh at the block panchayats and village level respectively to set up playing field with basic facilities under the PYKKA scheme. The government has also allowed a 20 per cent annual coverage of panchayats in respect of north-eastern states as compared to 10 per cent for the rest of the country under the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA), Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Pratik Prakashbapu Patil informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question. The state share in this will be 25 per cent for normal states and 10 per cent for special category states, including north-eastern states. > In addition, village panchayats were also given annual acquisition grant for procurement of sports equipment and annual operational grant to meet the operational expenses of non-competition nature at Rs 10,000 and 12,000 respectively, Patil said. Block panchayats were given Rs 20,000 and 24,000 respectively. PTI