Khelo India Tribal Games of Chhattisgarh is going to become an annual event, which will serve as an important platform for identifying and nurturing tribal athletic talents. The initiative aims to provide youth with constructive engagement through sports, scholarships, training and pathways to national centers of excellence. The program seeks to unleash the significant sporting potential within tribal communities.

Raipur: Khelo India Tribal Games is being set up as a long-term talent identification and development platform for tribal athletes, with Chhattisgarh as the host state. Sports Authority of India (SAI) Deputy Director General Mayank Srivastava said the initiative was launched to address the lack of sports opportunities in certain sections of the society, especially tribal areas, and to bring more youth into constructive engagement through sports. Under the Khelo India Talent Identification and Development vertical, the selection is not limited to one tournament. The committee also searches for athletes in other competitions. The DDG told TOI that during the Tribal Games, representatives of the committee will evaluate the participants and identify promising talent. Those selected may be called for trials and may either be included as Khelo India athletes or may be directly sent to the National Centers of Excellence of the Sports Authority of India. If the number of athletes is large or placement in NCOE is not possible, they can be accommodated in SAI training centres, where they get free training. Srivastava said that athletes selected under Khelo India on the basis of talent are provided scholarships and training assistance. Apart from the NCOE, there are more than 300 Khelo India-recognised training centers across the country where athletes can train, or they can make their own arrangements. In such a situation, the government provides financial assistance of about Rs 5 lakh to the scholarship holders. On the issue of government job quota for outstanding tribal sports athletes, he clarified that the matter does not directly fall under his jurisdiction. However, he said governments generally reserve jobs for athletes who meet the required criteria, including winning medals in national and international level competitions. He also highlighted the infrastructure component of Khelo India and said Rs 3,000 crore has been allocated under the scheme for sports infrastructure. Along with central assistance, states are also developing their own facilities. According to officials, all states are utilizing the infrastructure provisions of Khelo India and there is no widespread shortage of sports infrastructure in the country. He said the infrastructure will continue to be strengthened, especially if events like tribal games are organized regularly. The broader objective is to involve the youth, he said. Sport was described as the most effective and creative form of engagement for young people, satisfying their need for excitement, competition and physical activity. He argued that greater participation in sports could help keep youth away from destructive thoughts. As an example, he pointed to the Bastar Olympics, where surrendered Naxalites reportedly actively participated and increased demand for sports kits in Jagdalpur. Tribal Games are just the beginning and will now be organized every year in the state. He stressed that there is significant sporting talent in tribal communities and the new platform will help identify athletes, place them on a development path, provide training and tournament exposure and improve their chances of being seen at a higher level. The existing centers at Bilaspur and Raipur along with SAI facilities are expected to support that process.