Uttarakhand Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme

Highlights
  • The Scheme provides assistance of ₹17,960 per Gram Panchayat for installing open gyms.
  • Implemented under the Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard (PRD) Department.
  • Promotes physical fitness, sports activities, and health awareness among rural youth.
Website
Department of Youth Welfare and PRD, Uttarakhand
Customer Care
  • Department of Youth Welfare and PRD, Uttarakhand Helpdesk Email: ykprd.uk@gmail.com
Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme Uttarakhand Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme
Benefits Open Gym and Fitness Facilities
Beneficiary Rural Youth and Mangal Dals
Nodal Agency Department of Youth Welfare and PRD, Uttarakhand
Subscription Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply Offline by the Gram Panchayats

Uttarakhand Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme: Open Gyms for Village Communities

How the Rs 17,960 grant works, who can apply, and the step-by-step offline process for Gram Panchayats and Mangal Dals.

In many Uttarakhand villages, especially in the hills, the nearest gym or sports complex can be a long journey away. That leaves young people with few chances to exercise regularly. The state’s Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme (RSAHPS) tackles this by funding open gyms in village public spaces, so that fitness equipment is available to everyone, free of charge, close to home. This post explains how the scheme works and how a Gram Panchayat can apply.

What Is the Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme?

The scheme is a state-level initiative of the Government of Uttarakhand, implemented by the Department of Youth Welfare and Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD). It focuses on installing open gyms in village communities, giving rural youth free and convenient access to basic fitness equipment in their own localities.

Its main goal is to promote physical fitness and overall well-being among rural youth and to build a grassroots sports culture. Because the open gyms are set up in common public spaces, they are available to the entire village community and not only to young people.

Scheme at a Glance

  • Scheme name: Uttarakhand Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme (RSAHPS)
  • Benefit: One-time grant of Rs 17,960 per Gram Panchayat for open gym or community fitness equipment
  • Beneficiaries: Rural youth and village communities, through Mangal Dals
  • Nodal agency: Department of Youth Welfare and PRD, Uttarakhand
  • Mode of application: Offline, through the Gram Panchayat
  • Helpdesk email: ykprd.uk@gmail.com

Who Receives the Money?

This is not a scheme for individual applicants, and it does not operate through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The grant of Rs 17,960 is paid to the Mangal Dal, the village youth group linked with the Gram Panchayat, which is responsible for buying and installing the equipment. No money goes to individual bank accounts.

Key Features

  • Financial assistance: Rs 17,960 for each Gram Panchayat.
  • One-time grant. There is no yearly or recurring assistance.
  • Fund recipient and implementer: The Mangal Dal associated with the Gram Panchayat.
  • Free fitness access: Villagers get a public open gym within their own Gram Panchayat.
  • Community benefit: The scheme encourages regular exercise, sports, and a healthy lifestyle in rural areas.
  • Budget provision: In the 2025-26 state budget, Uttarakhand set aside Rs 2.50 crore for the scheme under the Youth Welfare and PRD Department.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligibility applies at the Gram Panchayat level, not to individuals. Every Gram Panchayat in Uttarakhand is eligible. An individual youth cannot apply for the scheme on their own, but can take part through the village’s Mangal Dal.

Documents Required

The Gram Panchayat and Mangal Dal must submit the papers required under the Youth Welfare and PRD Department’s guidelines. However, the department has not yet released a separate official list of documents. Before submitting a proposal, confirm the exact set of papers with your regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer.

How to Apply: The Offline Process

The whole process is offline, with no dedicated online portal. It moves through the Gram Panchayat, the Gram Sabha, and the regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer.

  1. Choose a site. The Gram Panchayat selects a suitable public site in the village for the open gym.
  2. Prepare a proposal. The Gram Panchayat, along with its Mangal Dal, prepares a proposal for installing an open gym or community fitness equipment.
  3. Get Gram Sabha approval. The Gram Sabha discusses the proposal and approves it in its meeting.
  4. Submit the proposal. The Gram Panchayat sends the approved proposal, with the documents the department requires, to the regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer.
  5. Verification. The regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer verifies the proposal.
  6. Approval. After verification, the department approves it.
  7. Release of funds. The department pays Rs 17,960 to the Mangal Dal associated with the Gram Panchayat.
  8. Installation. The Mangal Dal installs the open gym equipment at the chosen site for public use.

Tips for Gram Panchayats and Mangal Dals

  • Pick an accessible, safe public site that the whole village can reach, since the gym is meant for community use.
  • Get the Gram Sabha resolution in writing, because the proposal needs that approval.
  • Ask the regional officer for the document list first. No official list has been published, so avoid delays by confirming requirements early.
  • Plan the equipment within the Rs 17,960 grant. It is a one-time amount, so choose durable equipment suited to outdoor use.
  • Keep records of purchase and installation. Good records help with any verification that follows.
  • Plan for upkeep. Since there is no recurring grant, the village will need to look after the equipment.
  • Involve the Mangal Dal early, since it receives the funds and carries out the work.

The state also runs two schemes for individual young athletes: the Mukhyamantri Udayman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana, which gives a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 to selected players aged 8 to 14, and the Mukhyamantri Khiladi Protsahan Yojana, which offers a monthly scholarship of Rs 2,000 and an annual equipment grant of Rs 10,000 to promising athletes aged 14 to 23. These are separate schemes with their own eligibility rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rural Sports and Health Promotion Scheme? A state scheme that funds open gyms or community fitness equipment in Uttarakhand villages.

Which department runs it? The Department of Youth Welfare and Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD), Uttarakhand.

How much assistance is provided? Rs 17,960 per Gram Panchayat.

Who receives the money? The Mangal Dal associated with the Gram Panchayat.

Who is eligible? Every Gram Panchayat in Uttarakhand.

Is the grant recurring? No. It is a one-time grant.

Is it a DBT scheme? No. No money goes to individual bank accounts.

Can an individual youth apply? No. The scheme works through Gram Panchayats and Mangal Dals.

Who verifies the proposal? The regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer.

What is the last date to apply? No last date has been announced. Ask the regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer for the current position.

Where can I get help? Write to the department’s helpdesk at ykprd.uk@gmail.com, or contact your regional Youth Welfare and PRD Officer.