National Welfare Fund of Sportspersons Revised

India often ignores its sportspersons who brought glory to the nation and we get to read heart wrenching stories about such sportspersons living in utter poverty. There are stories of kabaddi player now selling vegetables or an athlete now working in brick kiln and many more.

In order to help sports persons of yesteryears the National Welfare Fund was set up in March, 1982. This fund is for those who had brought glory to the country in sports and are now living in indigent circumstances. The scheme was last reviewed and revised in July 2009.

Scheme of National Welfare Fund of Sportspersons recently was reviewed again and revised extensively.

Scope of the Scheme has also been expanded to include more sportspersons for being considered for financial assistance from the Fund. Quantum of assistance from the Fund has also been substantially enhanced.

Under the revised scheme, sportspersons and family members of the sportspersons living in indigent circumstances will be eligible for following amounts of financial assistance:

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

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.