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{{Short description|Scheme of Government of India}}
The '''Special Area Games Scheme''' (also known as the '''Special Area Games Programme'''; abbreviated to '''SAG Scheme''' and '''SAG Programme''' or '''SAGP''') is a sports promotion scheme of the [[Sports Authority of India]] (SAI) that is designed to identify and train sports persons from the communities in the tribal, rural, hilly and coastal regions of the country who are considered to exhibit natural physical aptitude for sporting events. The programme was started in 1986 by the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|Department of Youth Affairs and Sports]] of the [[Government of India]] but was suspended six years later in 1993 and was not resumed until 2014.

Before being admitted to one of the twenty SAG Centres, a selected trainee is required to go through the preliminary selection and an assessment by the field experts at special coaching camps. Under the scheme, various population groups have been scouted for their innate sporting talent. Its first project, which was launched in November 1986 to find contestants for [[modern competitive archery|archery]] among the communities of traditional hunters was successful; within a year of commencement, nine of the top-ten archers of India were the discoveries of this project. The programme attracted criticism for being focused exclusively on those population groups that were considered to have a natural advantage over others.

The scheme covers 26 sporting disciplines; except for [[kabaddi]], [[netball]], [[sepaktakraw]] and [[wushu (sport)|wushu]], these are [[Olympic sports]]. Selected trainees are trained at the SAG Sports Centres; these facilities were developed after SAI consulted with the state governments where they are located. [[Assam]], [[Bihar]], [[Kerala]], [[Manipur]] and [[Odisha]] each have two of these centres.

== Scheme ==
The Special Area Games Scheme is a sports promotion scheme of the Sports Authority of India in which children and young adults aged 12–18 who are considered to exhibit natural physical aptitude in sporting events are identified and trained. The age criterion is relaxed for "exceptional cases".<ref name="One India">{{Cite news |url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/nurturing-young-sports-talent-india-2046930.html |title=Nurturing Young Sports Talent in India |last=Lisa |date=21 March 2016 |work=[[Oneindia]] |access-date=23 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823041000/https://www.oneindia.com/feature/nurturing-young-sports-talent-india-2046930.html |archive-date=23 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SAG at SAI">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/index1.asp?ls_id=630 |publisher=[[Sports Authority of India]] |title=Special Area Games Scheme – SAG |website=Sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in |access-date=23 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823042608/http://www.sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/index1.asp%3Fls_id%3D630 |archive-date=23 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The population groups covered by the scheme are from the regions of the country in which communities from the tribal, rural, hilly and coastal areas are either genetically talented or possess distinct geographic advantage in sporting events. After preliminary selection, the potential trainees are assessed in special coaching camps under the supervision of field experts including coaches, former sports persons and [[sports science|sports scientists]]. After a successful assessment, trainees are admitted to an SAG Centre.<ref name="Reddy">{{Cite book |title=Sports Promotion In India |last=Reddy |first=P. Adinarayana |publisher=Discovery Publishing House |year=2005 |isbn=9788171419272 |location=New Delhi |pages=43–44 |chapter=Chapter 3: Sports Development Programmes in India – Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme}}</ref> Trainees have access to expert coaches, sports equipment and clothing, boarding and lodging facilities, competition at both national and international arenas, educational expenses, medical and insurance, and [[stipend]].<ref name="SAG PIB">{{cite news | url = https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=178365 | publisher = [[Press Information Bureau]] | title = Special Area Games | date = 4 April 2018 | access-date = 23 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190823134401/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx%3Frelid%3D178365 | archive-date = 23 August 2019 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Reddy" />

== History ==
[[File:Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium CWG opening ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Selected trainees were trained at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, which also acted as the laboratory of the programme]]

The programme was started by the Government of India's Department of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1986 in [[New Delhi]]. The [[Sports Authority of India]] was its implementing agency. The scheme was initiated by B. V. P. Rao, an [[Indian Administrative Service]] officer on special duty to the Sports Authority of India.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What is SAG? |date=7 September 2012 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] | location=[[Patiala]]}}</ref> A special committee composed of SAI officials was constituted for close monitoring and management of the programme, which was headed by the Union Minister of Youth and Sports and Women and Child Development [[Margaret Alva]].<ref name="India Today">{{Cite magazine |last=Menon |first=Amarnath K. |date=31 May 1988 |title=Special Areas Games Programme launched to groom sports talent |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19880531-special-areas-games-programme-launched-to-groom-sports-talent-797325-1988-05-31 |magazine=[[India Today]] |publication-date=2 December 2013 |access-date=24 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824053636/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19880531-special-areas-games-programme-launched-to-groom-sports-talent-797325-1988-05-31 |archive-date=24 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Population groups were scouted for their innate talent in sporting events. Among them were the [[Siddi]]s, an African-origin community, for the track and field events of athletics, especially medium-distance and long-distance running.<ref name="Mid Day">{{Cite news |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/run-with-the-siddis/17307223 |title=Run with the Siddis |last=Sinha |first=Dipanjan |date=9 June 2016 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=23 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823171752/https://www.mid-day.com/articles/run-with-the-siddis/17307223 |archive-date=23 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tribes of [[Bihar]] (now in [[Jharkhand]] after the division of Bihar) and [[Rajasthan]], who are accustomed to [[Bowhunting|bowhunting skills]], were scouted for talent in [[modern competitive archery]], and fishing communities of coastal [[Kerala]], who are proficient in boating, were scouted for [[rowing (sport)|rowing]], [[kayaking]] and [[canoeing]]. A "height hunt" talent search was carried out in Rajasthan with a criterion of height {{Convert|6|feet|metres|abbr=out}} and above for boys aged 14 to 18 years for the sports in which height can be a factor for success.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Krasilshchikov |first=Oleksandr |year=2011 |title=Talent Recognition and Development – Elaborating on a Principle Model |journal=International Journal of Developmental Sport Management |volume=1 |issue=1 |page=12}}</ref>

The first project under the programme was launched in November 1986 to find contestants for archery among the communities of traditional hunters. The quest resulted in the discovery of [[Shyam Lal Meena]] and [[Limba Ram]], both of them belonging to the [[Adivasi]] communities of Rajasthan, later won [[Arjuna Award]] for archery in 1989 and 1991, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030923/sports.htm#7 |title=Limba looks to overcome slump |last=Bagga |first=Neeraj |date=22 September 2003 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |access-date=24 August 2019 |location=Amritsar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905210615/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030923/sports.htm#7 |archive-date=5 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The project proved to be successful within a year; with the exception of [[Sanjeeva Kumar Singh]], all of the top-ten archers of the country were the discoveries of the SAG programme.<ref name="India Today" />

Selectors invited applications to the programme through an advertisement in a local newspaper in [[Alleppey district]], Kerala, which is famous for traditional boat racing known as [[Vallam Kali]]. The programme aimed to find prospective competitors for rowing, canoeing and kayaking and it attracted 800 applicants. The SAG Centre Alleppey was opened in 1987 after the conclusion of the annual Vallam Kali competition; 180 applicants were called for interview but only 17 of them were selected to be trained under the scheme.<ref name="India Today" />

The Khasi Tournaments or the Khasi Cup (literally: the Goat Cup) are organised in the tribal belt of Jharkhand, [[Odisha]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]] in which the winner of the tournament is awarded with a goat.<ref name="India Today" /><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2018/nov/25/the-hinterland-tale-sundargarh-goat-cup-to-hockey-world-cup-1902982.html | title = The hinterland tale: Sundargarh Goat Cup to Hockey World Cup | work = [[The Indian Express]] | date = 25 November 2018 | access-date = 24 August 2019 | last = Gouda | first = Debashis | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190824143702/http://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2018/nov/25/the-hinterland-tale-sundargarh-goat-cup-to-hockey-world-cup-1902982.html | archive-date = 24 August 2019 | url-status = live }}</ref> It is a tribal version of [[field hockey]] for which makeshift curved bamboo sticks and cork balls are used. Selectors of the programme organised 31 tournaments over eight weeks, and scrutinised 15,000 players, prior to a final selection tournament held in April 1988 at [[Gumla]], Bihar (now in Jharkhand). The best teams were invited at Gumla and 42 boys and 28 girls were chosen by ex-Olympians, [[Balbir Singh Sr.]] and [[Michael Kindo]], for training in Delhi.<ref name="India Today" />

== Criticism, suspension and revival of the scheme==
Sports federations in India objected to the programme for being focused exclusively on population groups that were considered to possess natural advantage over others in particular sports. Lack of similar schemes for those who were interested in sports but did not belong to any tribal group or have the habitat-related advantage was presented as another criticism.<ref name="India Today" /> After running for six years, the programme was suddenly suspended in 1993.<ref name="TOI">{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/mahe-ngo-train-siddis-for-shot-at-olympics/articleshow/69379841.cms |title=MAHE, NGO train Siddis for shot at Olympics |last=Mendonsa |first=Kevin |date=18 May 2019 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

Some former athletes and representatives of [[Siddi]] community attempted to revive the scheme; their efforts persuaded the Union Government in 2014 when it allotted {{INRConvert|11.5|c|lk=on}} for the financial year 2014–15 to implement the programme.<ref name="SAG PIB" /> In the following years, the amount was successively raised, except in 2016–17 when it was {{INRConvert|12.75|c}}, {{INRConvert|25|l}} less than the allotment for the year 2015–16.<ref name="SAG PIB" />

== Disciplines covered ==
The SAG programme covers in total 26 sporting disciplines including archery, athletics, [[badminton]], [[basketball]], [[boxing]], [[canoeing]], [[cycle sport|cycling]], [[fencing]], [[association football|football]], [[gymnastics]], [[handball]], [[field hockey]], [[judo]], [[kabaddi]], [[karate]], [[kayaking]], [[netball]], [[rowing (sport)|rowing]], [[sepaktakraw]], [[shooting sports|shooting]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[taekwondo]], [[volleyball]], [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]], [[wrestling]], and [[wushu (sport)|wushu]]. Barring kabaddi, netball, sepaktakraw and wushu, the remaining 22 sports are [[Olympic sports]].<ref name="SAG at SAI"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.olympic.org/sports |title=Sports – Summer Sports |website=Olympic.org |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |access-date=28 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823213151/https://www.olympic.org/sports |archive-date=23 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Sports centres ==
Under the Special Area Games Scheme, after consulting with the respective state governments, twenty sports centres have been established by the Ministry of Sports in fourteen states. State governments are required to provide requisite land with infrastructure. The Sports Authority of India constructs the facility if it is unavailable in any state provided the state government leases a developed land to SAI for a long duration.<ref>{{Cite report |chapter-url=http://planningcommission.gov.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp12/hrd/wg_repsports.pdf |title=Report of the Working Group on Sports & Physical Education for 12th Five Year Plan (2012–17) |date=October 2011 |publisher=Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India |website=Planningcommission.gov.in |chapter=Chapter 2: 11th Plan Performance Review |page=32 |access-date=28 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714000100/http://planningcommission.gov.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp12/hrd/wg_repsports.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Manipur and Odisha each have two SAG sports centres. [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], Jharkhand, [[Mizoram]], [[Sikkim]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Telangana]], [[Tripura]] and [[West Bengal]] each have one sports centre.<ref name="SAG Centres List">{{cite web | url = https://nationalsportstalenthunt.in/iFileSAI/showCenter/showCenterPage | title = SAI Centres – Special Area Games | access-date = 3 August 2019 | website = Nationalsportstalenthunt.in | publisher = [[Sports Authority of India]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190823160018/https://nationalsportstalenthunt.in/iFileSAI/showCenter/showCenterPage | archive-date = 23 August 2019 | url-status = live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Sl. No.''' !! '''SAG Centre''' !! '''Location'''
|-
| 1 || 1 EME Centre, Secunderabad || [[Secunderabad]], Telanaga
|-
| 2 || SAG Alleppey || [[Alleppey]], Kerala
|-
| 3 || SAG Tellicherry || [[Tellicherry]], Kerala
|-
| 4 || SAG Mayiladuthurai || [[Mayiladuthurai]], Tamil Nadu
|-
| 5 || SAG Kargil || [[Kargil]], Jammu and Kashmir
|-
| 6 || SAG Imphal || [[Imphal]], Manipur
|-
| 7 || SAG Utlov || [[Bishenpur district]], Manipur
|-
| 8 || SAG Aizawl || [[Aizawl]], Mizoram
|-
| 9 || SAG Jagatpur || [[Jagatpur, India|Jagatpur]], Odisha
|-
| 10 || SAG Sundergarh || [[Sundergarh]], Odisha
|-
| 11 || SAG Port Blair || [[Port Blair]], Andman and Nicobar
|-
| 12 || SAG Ranchi || [[Ranchi]], Jharkhand
|-
| 13 || SAG Krishanganj || [[Kishanganj]], Bihar
|-
| 14 || SAG Giddaur || [[Gidhaur]], Bihar
|-
| 15 || SAG Bolpur || [[Bolpur]], [[Birbhum district]], West Bengal
|-
| 16 || SAG Agartala || [[Agartala]], Tripura
|-
| 17 || SAG Namchi || [[South Sikkim]], Sikkim
|-
| 18 || SAG Naharlagan || [[Naharlagun]], Arunachal Pradesh
|-
| 19 || SAG Kokrajhar || [[Kokrajhar]], Assam
|-
| 20 || SAG Tinsukhia || [[Tinsukia]], Assam
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/ Sports Authority of India] (official website)
* [https://www.olympic.ind.in/ Indian Olympic Association] (official website)
* [https://yas.nic.in/ Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India] (official website)

[[Category:Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]
[[Category:Government schemes in India]]

Special Area Games Scheme - Revision history

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