SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN MONTHLY PENSIONThe Ministry of Sports &Youth Affairs has approved the enhancement of quantum of financial assistance to the outstanding sportspersons living in indigent circumstances under the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons .
The General Committee, an apex body for managing the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons, which met under the Chairmanship of Dr. M.S. Gill, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, while taking the decision considered the fact that the last revision in the monetary ceiling limit for indigent circumstances was done way back in 1994.
Accordingly, the Committee decided that the limit of income from all sources for being eligible for assistance from the Fund be raised to Rs. 2 lakh per annum from the existing limit of Rs. 3000 per month. The Committee also approved the new definition of ‘outstanding sportsperson’ for the purpose of pension, “an outstanding sportsperson means a person who has achieved a position within first 3 in individual events or within first 2 in team events in a recognized National Championship, or one who represents or has represented the country in an International Competition at least twice”.
The Committee also decided that the limit of lumpsum financial assistance be raised to:
a) Rs. 5 lakh from the existing limit of Rs. 1 lakh, to a sportsperson or his family in case of sustaining a fatal injury, during training for, or participation in an international competition;
b) Rs. 2 lakh from the existing limit of Rs. 40,000 in case of sportsperson sustaining injury other than a fatal injury provided that assistance in no case shall be less than Rs. 10,000.
c) As regards the rate the revision in the rates of pension, the Committee decided that:
i) the rate of monthly pension be enhanced from existing Rs. 2,500 to Rs.10,000 in the case of an outstanding sportsperson who is permanently or indefinitely incapacitated for service or otherwise; and
ii) the rate of monthly pension in other cases be enhanced from existing Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 8,000
provided that in either case the period for which the pension would be available (including life pension) shall be determined by the Committee.
The Committee further decided that the period of pension should in no case be less than 5 years. In the case of existing pensioners, whose period of pension is less than 5 years, it would be automatically increased upto 5 years and for the residual period they would get pension at the revised rates.
d) As regards assistance to families of outstanding sportspersons in indigent circumstances, the Committee decided that the limit of lumpsum financial assistance be revised from existing Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 2 lakh.
e) As regards the assistance for medical treatment of an outstanding sportsperson, the Committee decided that the limit of financial assistance be revised from existing Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 2 lakh.
f) Regarding assistance to sports promoters, who were eminent, but were not well of an are in indigent circumstances, the Committee decided that the limit of lumpsum financial assistance be enhanced from existing Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000, however, it would only be given to coaches, referees and umpires.