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The government has released Rs 13.73 crore for the disabled sportspersons till date under the Khelo India Scheme, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Despite sports
being a ‘state subject’ under the Indian Constitution, the union government has been allocating funds scheme-wise since 2016-17, Rijiju said in a written reply. “Funds are allocated by the
Union Government Scheme-wise, not State/Union Territory-wise. Under one of the verticals of the Khelo India Scheme, namely ‘Promotion of sports among persons with disabilities’ funds to the
tune of ? 13.73 crore have been released till date for promotion of sports among disabled sportspersons,” Rijiju said. More than 20 para-sportspersons have so far qualified for the Tokyo
Paralympics to be held from August 25 to September 6. Many of these para-sportspersons are under the central government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme. “Sports being a State subject, the
responsibility of development of sports, including promotion of sports competitions for divyang persons, rests with State/Union Territory Governments. Central Government supplements their
efforts by bridging critical gaps,” the Minister said. “However, the Union Government has started a Central Sector Scheme, namely, Khelo India Scheme in the year 2016-17 and revamped it
further with twelve verticals in 2017-18.”