Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said at the Parliament that lifelong pensions are being given to athletes under the ‘Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons’ scheme.
He informed the Rajya Sabha that 627 sportspersons are currently receiving monthly pensions under the scheme. Indian sportspersons winning medals at international sporting or paralympic events are eligible for lifelong pension upon retirement, or after attaining the age of 30 years, whichever is later.
In a written reply to a question, Rijiju said that monthly pensions, ranging between ₹12,000 and ₹20,000, are being disbursed under the scheme to medal winners at events such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, World Cups and World Championships.
He also said the government is coming to the aid of former sportspersons who are struggling.
You have reached your limit for free articles this month.
Register to The Hindu for free and get unlimited access for 30 days.
Subscription Benefits Include
Today's Paper
Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.
Unlimited Access
Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.
Personalised recommendations
A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.
Faster pages
Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.
Dashboard
A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.
Briefing
We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.
Not convinced? Know why you should pay for news.
*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.