Coal India contributes Rs. 75 cr to National Sports Development Fund of Sports Ministry

New Delhi, Sept 7: As part of Corporate Social Responsibility, the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) coming under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has signed MoU with Coal India Limited for a contribution towards NSDF. The CIL contributed Rs. 75 cr to NSDF.

 

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, MoS Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik, Secretary of Department of Sports Ravi Mittal, and officers of Coal India Lmt. also graced the event.

  

 

Thakur said, "The valuable contribution by Coal India to NSDF has come at an appropriate time in the backdrop of unprecedented performance by our sportspersons at the recent Olympics and Paralympics. This a part of the funds generated from the mining of coal will go to chisel our sportspersons into ‘diamonds’ that deliver a podium finish."

 

The fund is used to promote sports in general and specific sports disciplines for achieving excellence at the national and international levels. It is also judiciously applied for the modernization and development of infrastructure. In the previous years, a number of PSUs have generously contributed to NSDF.

 

 

“The sports academies under SAI and LNIPE needed more hostels for the benefit of athletes. Coal India Ltd's endeavor to contribute substantial funds of Rs.75 crore towards construction of three hostels for sports athletes will bring ease of training and enhanced facilities.”, the Minister added.

 

Further, he said that the signing of MOU for construction of three hostels at SAI academies at Bangalore, Bhopal and LNIPE Gwalior will strengthen the bond between the Department of Sports / NSDF and Coal India Ltd. He proposed that Sports Authority of India and Coal India Limited should jointly set up a Sports Academy for furthering the cause of sporting culture in the country. He appealed to all PSUs, corporates and individuals to come forward and contribute generously to the NSDF as part of their corporate social responsibility and become stakeholders in India's journey to becoming a sporting powerhouse.

 

 

Contribution to NSDF has mainly come from PSUs and PSBs. As on 31.03.2021, total CSR contributions received are Rs. 170 crore and Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has made contribution of Rs. 164 crore itsmatching share. From this fund, the Ministry has given assistance to organizations for infrastructure and setting up of academies, assistance to sportspersons for their customized training and to Sports Authority of India (SAI) for athletes covered in Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).