Modi govt slashed sports budget allocation by Rs 230.78 crore in Olympic year

New Delhi: The Modi government in the Union budget for 2021-22 had allocated Rs.2,596.14 crore to sports, less by Rs.230.78 crore -- or, 8.16 per cent -- allocated in the previous financial year.

Out of the total allocated amount, Rs.2,549.41 crore has been earmarked as revenue budget that sports departments use for basic expenses, such as salaries of employees, while Rs.46.73 crore has been set aside for capital expenses that includes construction of facilities/new stadia etc.

The allocation for basic expenses is Rs.226.49 crore less than last fiscal's. From Rs.2,775.90 crore in the last fiscal, the amount for capital expenses is Rs.4.29 crore down from Rs.51.02 crore.

The Sports Ministry's flagship Khelo India has had its allocation slashed to Rs.657.71 crore from Rs.890.42 crore allocated in 2020-21 -- a difference of Rs. 232.71 crore, though in the revised budget of 2020-21 the amount was reduced to Rs.890.42 crore to rs.329.77 crore.

Assistance to the National Sports Federations (NSFs), however, has been increased by Rs.35 crore. This year's budget is Rs.280 crore while last year's was Rs.245 crore.

Archery Association of India secretary general Pramod Chandurkar has criticised the move and did ask centre more finding ahead of Tokyo Olympics.

"Our ACTC (Annual Calendar Training and Competitions) for the national team preparing for Tokyo Olympics has been approved but any change in plan would require more funding. If NSFs are given some additional funds in these unprecedented times due to pandemic it would be a big support," he said.

Nevertheless, with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals, India's medal tally In Tokyo Olympics has gone up to 7 — highest so far for the country in any Olympics. Earlier in the 2012 London Games, India had won six medals — two silver and four bronze.