National Welfare Fund to pay Rs,5 lakh to needy sportspersons

The National Welfare Fund for sports persons scheme has been reviewed and revised extensively to financially assist outstanding sportsperson living in indigent circumstances with a maximum of Rs.5 lakh, the sports ministry announced on Thursday.

"Financial assistance may be granted to an outstanding sportsperson now living in indigent circumstances, subject to a maximum of Rs.5 lakh," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also said that under the new revised scheme, amount of annual income for being eligible for getting financial assistance from the Fund has been raised from the existing Rs.2 lakh to Rs.4 lakh.

Scope of the scheme has also been expanded to include more sports persons for being considered for financial assistance from the fund.

Under the revised scheme, sportspersons and family members of the sportspersons living in indigent circumstances will be eligible for amounts of financial assistance such as, financial assistance subject to a maximum of Rs.10 lakh may be granted to an outstanding sportsperson for injuries sustained during training for and participation in sports competitions.

Financial assistance not exceeding Rs.5.00 lakh may be provided to the families of deceased outstanding sportspersons living in indigent circumstances.

Financial assistance not exceeding Rs.10 lakh may be provided for medical treatment of an outstanding sportsperson or of any of his/her family members living in indigent circumstances.

Financial assistance not exceeding Rs.2 lakh may be provided to coaches and support personnel such as sports doctors, sports psychologists, sports mentors, physiotherapists, masseurs who have been attached with national coaching camps for senior category players and national teams (senior category).

And umpires, referees and match officials, who have been associated with recognized national championships (senior category) and international tournaments (senior category) in the sports disciplines included in Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games who are living in indigent circumstances or to family members of such deceased support personnel living in indigent circumstances.

--IANS

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