Kiren Rijiju claims no shortage of funds for National Sports Federation

The allocation of sports budget for 2020-21 came as a major blow for the National Sports Federations (NSF), with the allocated budget slashed by Rs 55 crore. In fact, the NSF saw the highest reduction of funds as Rs. 245 crore was allocated from the revised Rs. 300.85 crore for 2019-20.

However, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday, claimed that there will be no shortage of funds for the NSF. He also said, in case there is a shortage of fund, more money can be taken up.

"If there are shortage of funds for the federations, it can be taken up, that is why there is provision for revision," Rijiju told reporters.

The overall sports budget for the financial year 2020-21 of Rs. 2826.92 crore saw a surge of Rs. 50 crore from the revised estimates of Rs. 2776.92 crore in 2019-20.

The government did not allow a substantial hike in the sports budget, with a dip in the incentives for athletes in the Olympic year.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI), the hub for athletes training in the country, was also allocated with a slashed budget which went down to Rs. 500 crore from the revised Rs 615 crore. And if that was not enough, the budget for the National Sports Development Fund reduced to Rs. 50 crore from Rs. 77.15 crore