Schemes of Cash Awards, National Welfare and Pension to Sportspersons

• 12 Jul 2022

For Prelims: Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme, Sports Fund for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, Scheme of Cash Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and Their Coaches, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS)

For Mains: Role of public institution in promotion of sport culture, Human Development, India’s participation in international sports events

Why in News?

Recently, Union Minister for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched revised schemes of Cash Awards, National Welfare and Pension to sportspersons, Web Portal for Schemes of Department of Sports (dbtyas-sports.gov.in) and National Sports Development Fund website (nsdf.yas.gov.in).

What are Amendments in the Schemes?

• Direct Applicability for these Schemes:
  • Now, any individual sports person can directly apply for all three schemes (Earlier proposals were received through Sports Federations/SAI, usually taking more than 1-2 years).
    • Applicants now need to apply online for a cash award scheme within six months from the last date of closing of the particular event”.
• Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons:
  • Pension benefits have been extended to the athletes of Deaflympics also.
• Web portal for the Implementation:
  • To implement the above features in these schemes, the Department of Sports (DoS) has developed web portal dbtyas-sports.gov.in to facilitate sportspersons in applying to seek benefits under the above schemes of Department of Sports”.
  • This online portal will facilitate real time tracking of applications by the sportspersons and authentication through One Time Password (OTP) sent on their registered mobile number.
    • Physical submission of applications to the Ministry would now be no longer required.
  • Portal will also generate different types of required reports and data management of the sportspersons.
• National Sports Development Fund’ (NSDF):
  • DoS has also developed a dedicated interactive website nsdf.yas.gov.in for ‘National Sports Development Fund’ (NSDF).
    • This Fund is based on Corporate Social Responsibility contributions from Central & State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), private companies, and individuals etc. for promotion and development of sports in the country.
  • Individual, institution and corporate organisations can now directly contribute for players, sports facilities, and sports events through the portal.
    • The NSDF corpus is used for Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme, Infrastructure development by eminent sports persons and sports organisations etc.

What do we Know about the Amended Schemes?

• Sports Fund for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons:
  • About:
    • It aims to provide lifelong monthly pension to medal winners in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships in the disciplines included in Olympic Games and Asian Games, Paralympic Games after their retirement from active sports or they attain the age of 30years, whichever is later.
    • The Scheme will be applicable to sportspersons, who are Indian citizens and have won gold, silver or bronze medals in Olympic Games, World Cup/World Championships in Olympics and Asian Games disciplines, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Paralympic Games.
    • The pension shall be payable to a sportsperson on his or her attaining the age of 30 years and will continue during his/her lifetime.
  • Assistance given:
    • Medallist at the Olympic/Paralympic Games (Rs.20,000)
    • Gold medallist at World Cup/World Championship (in Olympic/Asian Games disciplines) (Rs.16,000)
    • Silver/Bronze medallist at World Cup/World Championship (in Olympics / Asian Games disciplines) and gold medallist in Asian Games/Commonwealth Games/Para Asian Games (Rs.14,000)
    • Silver and Bronze medallist in Asian Games/Commonwealth Games/Para Asian Games (Rs.12,000)
• Scheme of Cash Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches:
  • The cash awards were introduced in 1986 and amended in 2020.
  • To incentivize the achievements of outstanding sportspersons, encourage and motivate them for higher achievements and to act as inspiring role models for attracting the younger generation to take up sports.
  • The Awards will be given in the following disciplines:
    • Sports disciplines in Olympic Games/ Asian Games/ Commonwealth Games
    • Chess
    • Billiards & Snooker

Note

" Outstanding Sportsperson " means a sportsperson who has achieved a position within first 3 in individual events and team events in a recognized National Championship (Senior category) conducted by National Sports Federations, recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, or National Games conducted under auspices of Indian Olympic Association, Inter-University Tournaments conducted under the auspices of Association of Indian Universities, or one who has participated in an international sports event in senior category in the sports disciplines included in Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games.

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS):
  • PDUNWFS was set up in 1982 (revised in 2016) with a view to assisting outstanding Sportspersons of yesteryear, living in indigent circumstances who had brought glory to the Country in sports.
    • Provision of pension has been done away with as there is already a Scheme of Pension for Meritorious Sportspersons.
  • The Fund shall be utilised for the following objectives:
    • To provide suitable assistance to outstanding sports persons
      • now living in indigent sportspersons.
      • injured during the period of their training for competitions and also during the competitions, depending on the nature of the injury.
      • who bring glory to the country in the international field and who are disabled as an after effect of their strenuous training or to provide them assistance for medical treatment.

Source: PIB