Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on 12 August launched the revamped Shaktidoot 2.0 scheme at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, scaling direct athletic support from 64 to 500 athletes and raising the annual training assistance ceiling to ₹50 lakh per athlete. The relaunch sets a 10-year target of equipping Gujarat's sportspersons to compete at the highest national and international levels, with the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad serving as the immediate horizon.

What Shaktidoot 2.0 Offers

Under the revised framework, each selected athlete can receive up to ₹50 lakh annually — averaging roughly ₹4.25 lakh a month — for world-class training, whether in India or abroad. The scheme reserves 50 places specifically for para-athletes, and explicitly extends eligibility to deaf, visually impaired, and other Divyang athletes. Applications can be submitted through a dedicated portal year-round, with selection determined by medals won and overall performance record.

The state also announced plans to establish what Sanghavi described as the country's No. 1 sports science and medicine recovery facility, aimed at supporting athletes rehabilitating from injuries.

Scale of Wednesday's Event

The launch at Mahatma Mandir was part of the state government's 'Ramshe Gujarat, Jitshe Gujarat' initiative. The occasion also saw the inauguration and foundation stone-laying of around 37 sports complexes, libraries, and allied facilities valued at more than ₹388 crore across Gujarat. A total of 799 athletes were honoured with the Eklavya Award, Sardar Patel Award, and Jaydeepsinhji Award for their sporting achievements.

Track Record of the Original Scheme

Since its inception in 2015, the Shaktidoot scheme has supported 1,740 athletes, including 777 international athletes who have won medals across disciplines. One beneficiary at the event noted having won 57 national and 26 international medals after being selected under the scheme — a data point that officials cited as evidence of the programme's impact.

Dr Rahul Gupta, Secretary of the Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, said the state was entering a new phase in its sporting journey, with Khel Mahakumbh having laid a grassroots foundation that had since broadened into a wider sports movement. He added that hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games would give Gujarat an international platform to showcase its athletic talent.

The Commonwealth Games Lens

With Ahmedabad confirmed as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, Sanghavi said athletes would undergo intensive training over the next four years. He expressed confidence that Gujarat would deliver its highest-ever medal haul at the Games. This comes amid a broader push by the state to move beyond its historical association with traditional sports at national tournaments — a shift that officials credited to programmes such as Khel Mahakumbh and the original Shaktidoot.

What Comes Next

The scheme is now open for applications via the state sports portal on a rolling basis. Industry observers and sports administrators will watch whether the expanded coverage and the promised sports science facility translate into measurable podium finishes, particularly as the 2030 Commonwealth Games countdown begins in earnest.