In a bid to improve the plight of national sportstars living in penury, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs is set to implement various welfare schemes in the coming months.
“The Ministry is implementing a scheme named ‘National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons’ under which there is a provision for ex-gratia financial assistance to outstanding sportspersons of yesteryears, now living in indignant circumstances whose annual income is less than Rs.2 lakh,” said Union Minister of State and Independent Charge for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal.
In a written reply in parliament on Tuesday, Sonowal made the stand of the government very clear on encouraging sports in the country. He said that the new government is resolute in its aim of not only helping former stars get their due but also improve sporting culture in the country.
“The Ministry is implementing another scheme titled “Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons” from 1984 under which life time monthly pension is given to those sportspersons who have won gold, silver and bronze in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Cups/World Championships and Paralympic Games, after they attain the age of 30 years or retire from active sports,” the minister said.
The Ministry has set monthly pensions of former Olympians and national players, who have made their mark in international events, which according to Sonowal will inspire the youth to take up sports as a profession.
The pension for Olympic medallists has been set at Rs. 10,000 per month while the gold medallists at the World Cup/World Championships in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines will get Rs. 8,000.
Silver and bronze medallists of the World Cup/World Championships in the Olympic and Asian Games disciplines and gold medallists of the Asian and Commonwealth Games will get Rs. 7,000.
Silver and bronze medallists of the Asiad and CWG will be entitled to get Rs. 6,000 while gold medallists of Paralympic Games will get Rs. 5,000. Silver and bronze medallists of Paralympic Games will get a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000 per month.
