The objectives of PYKKA are 'broad-basing of sports' through grassroot level sports activity; 'promoting excellence in sports' at the national and international levels; 'universalization of sports' which cannot be attained without adequate thrust on development of sports in rural areas and by providing basic sports infrastructure and equipment at the panchayat level and encouraging sports and games in rural areas through annual competitions at the block and district levels.

These aims have also been strongly advocated by the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development (HRD) in their 34th report which inter-alia states that 'the Government should plan the development of sports in a phased manner so that necessary infrastructure is built up over a period of time'. This aspect has also been highlighted by the Working Group on Youth Affairs & Sports constituted for the formulation of the 10th Five Year Plan. The Working Group in its report inter-alia observed that. “there is an immediate need to create a network of basic sports infrastructure throughout the country” and ensure proper access to it “to enable more people to participate in sports thereby broadening our base for scouting of talent”.

Road Map

The PYKKA scheme will cover all village and block panchayats/equivalent units in the country. There are 607 districts, 6,373 block panchayats and 2,50,000 village panchayats in the country. A cluster approach will be adopted in the case of very small panchayats by combining 2-3 panchayats under a cluster so that the combined population corresponds to the national average of around 4,600. The duration of the Scheme would be 10 years beginning from 2008-09 and it would be implemented in a phased manner over the 11th and 12th Plan periods. 10 per cent of village panchayats will be covered in one year in such a way that the entire village/block panchayats in the country would have been covered under the PYKKA scheme by 2016-17. The implementation agency at the village/block panchayat level shall be sports clubs/youth clubs of Nehru Yuva Kendra, State Sport/youth club, other NGOs involved in sports/youth activity/Self-Help Groups/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Financial assistance shall be given to a village/block panchayat for development of sports infrastructure; financial assistance will also be provided for acquisition of sports equipments, accessories, consumables etc., (for a period of five years) and operational expenses including honorarium to Kridashrees (honorary sports volunteers) will be given for a period of five years. Annual competitions grant is also being provided to each block and district level for competitions and the prize money is 100% central grant to the first three village panchayats at the block level tournaments and to the first three block panchayats at the district level tournaments.

Financial and Physical Progress

Rs. 92 crore had been released to States/UTs during the first year of PYKKA Scheme (2008-09) as competition grant and Rs. 106.56 crore (upto December, 2009) during the second year of the scheme (2009-10).

In the first two years of PYKKA scheme (2008-09 and upto December, 2009 in 2009-10) 24,115 village panchayats and 654 block panchayats have been covered.

Outcomes Expected

ï‚· 'Broad basing of sports' will take place at the grassroot level;

ï‚· The youth in rural areas will become health conscious positive and productive;

ï‚· The rural-urban divide in sports activities will get narrowed down;

ï‚· 'Universalisation of sports' will be achieved with thrust on development of sports in rural areas;

ï‚· Indigenous games/martial arts will get development;

ï‚· 'Spirit of oneness' among rural youth is likely to develop;

ï‚· A vibrant and 'physically fit' force will be developed in each village/block panchayats;

ï‚· Qualities like leadership, tolerance, team spirit, inclusiveness, etc., will be developed among rural youth;

ï‚· With the proper implementation of the scheme villages in the country would witness a social transformation within 5-10 years. #