The government of India has merged Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), launched by the previous UPA government, with the Khelo India programme for development of sports, thereby dropping former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s name from it. The move left the Congress fuming as this is not the first time that Rajiv Gandhi’s name is being dropped from a scheme after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power.

• The RGKA was launched by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in February 2014 to replace Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).
• Two other sport projects launched by the previous regime, that is, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme and National Sports Talent Search Scheme, have also been merged under Khelo India.
• This year’s Budget has renamed four schemes named after Rajiv Gandhi by dropping his name.

Last year, Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij suggested the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Parisars be renamed to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Khel Parisars in the state. The proposal had drawn sharp criticism from the Congress. The government in centre has allocated Rs 140 crore for the financial year 2016-17 for Khelo India which is based on Gujarat’s ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ sports festival.

About Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan was a centrally sponsored scheme launched on 21 February 2014 in place of erstwhile Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).
• PYKKA is a rural sports initiative introduced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to promote youth and social development through sports.
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan aimed at constructing sports complexes in each block and exclusively both for outdoor and indoor sports discipline for 5 years.