Report | Central Government to enhance funding to the AIFF, says sports minister Kiren Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, said that the Government of India would enhance the funding to aid the AIFF for the development of football in the country. India have been known to have poor infrastructure and other developmental facilities due to inadequate funding.
Finally, the tide is set to turn for football in India. Although the sport has garnered the attention of Indians increasingly over the last decade, especially with the inception of the Indian Super League in 2014, major developments were yet to come from the Central Government but Rijiju said that Government of India would enhance the funding to aid the AIFF for the development of football in the country.
Sports being within the control of the states, the responsibility and promotion of football has rested with the respective State Governments, with the National Sports Federations (NSFs) to aid them. Throughout our history, the Central Government has only supplemented the efforts of the individual states.
AIFF, the NSF equivalent for football, had received financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 23.08 crore in 2018-19, and Rs. 30 crores in 2019-20. The AIFF then plan developmental, or promotional, activities at the State or District level after consultation with the respective State or District affiliates.Â
In addition, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), an autonomous corporation under the same Ministry is implementing National Sports Talent Contest Scheme (NSTC), Army Boys Sports Company (ABSC), SAI Training Centre (STC), Special Area Games (SAG), Extension Centre of STC/SAG, Centre of Excellence (COE), National Sports Academies (NSA), to identify talented sports persons in the age group of 8 to 25.Â
