Page 36 - Mann ki Baat June 2022 - English

Realizing the power of youth and Target Olympic Podium Scheme
sports to transform the nation, the (TOPS) which provides impetus
Government of India is striving to Indian athletes competing in
to revamp the existing sports the Olympics; FIT India Movement
ecosystem in the country, with a which is focused on improving
focus on grass-root level talent India’s fitness quotient, have
identification, infrastructure been introduced to harness the
building, support to elite athletes, true potential and nurture the
and creating an overall sports youth of tomorrow. The Union
culture that would provide Government has also raised the
equal opportunities to women, sports budget from Rs. 864 crore
in 2014 to a whopping Rs. 1,992
divyangs and youth from far-
crore in 2022, and the outcome is
flung areas. Schemes like Khelo
pretty evident.
India Scheme which promotes
sports at the grass-root level; the Established in 2018, the Khelo
India Youth Games
has been a landmark
flagship initiative
by the Government
of India to provide
the youngsters of
the nation a new
platform to showcase
their sporting talent.
Beginning with 18
sports in 2018, the list
of sports increased to
20, in 2020. This time, 5
new traditional games
were a part of the Khelo
India Youth Games
2021 namely Gatka,
Kalaripayattu, Thang-
Ta, Mallakhamba,
and Yogasana
extending the list to
25 sports. Increasing
India’s prestige in the
international sporting
arena, ‘A total of 12
records have been
broken in these
games. And not only

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