Patiala: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has released a sum of Rs 44.97 crore as grant to various States and Union Territories for the period 2009-10 under the Union Sports ministry's Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) scheme.
The financial grant, in addition, was also released for awarding attractive cash prizes to the panchayats winning first, second and third positions at the block, district and state level competitions, a release said here today.
The scheme was aimed at provision of universal access to sports, in rural areas and promotion of sports culture among the rural masses, through the creation of network of basic sports infrastructure; introduction of organised sports training and competitions from the block level to the national level and identification and nurturing of talent.
There is a plan to cover about 10 per cent, which is around 20,000 village panchayats and 637 block panchayats, every year, with an aim of covering the whole country within a period of ten years, the release said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 22:20