Youth Affairs and sports minister Ajay Maken today informed the Lok Sabha that his ministry has adopted 27 schools to promote indigenous games and martial arts in the country. He said 333 trainees including 82 girls are being trained in these schools. In a written reply, Mr. Maken said under special area games scheme of Sports Authority of India, natural talent for modern competitive sports is identified and nurtured from tribal, rural, coastal and hilly areas of the country. The minister said his ministry has introduced a nation wide centrally sponsored scheme titled Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan in 2008-09 to broadbase the sports in the country by creating basic sports facilities. He said over 88 crore rupees has been given to 27 states to conduct sports competitions at block, district, state and national levels.