The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that promotion and development of sports disciplines including hockey & football is the primary responsibility of State Governments and the concerned National Sports Federations (NSFs).

Government has given recognition to Hockey India (HI) and All India Football Federation (AIFF) as NSFs for promotion and development of hockey & football in the country.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today the Minister said, Government of India recognizes the importance of these sports in India, their popularity among the masses and medal prospects of India in various international events, etc.

Keeping these factors in view, the Ministry has placed the sports of hockey & football in the ‘high priority’ category so that they get maximum admissible financial assistance & support under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations.

Government has spent a substantial amount of its budget from the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations on hiring foreign coaches, training/coaching camps, creating infrastructure, etc.

An amount of Rs.8005.86 lakh was spent on the sport of hockey and Rs.2220.78 lakh on football from the Central Government budget during the last three years, i.e., from 2013-14 to 2015-16 (upto June 2015).