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The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports are operating a scheme of Sports Fund for Pension to Meritorious Sports-persons.
This ‘Samman Pension’ is given after the sporting career of an elite sportsperson comes to close. Till recently a condition existed that if such persons are drawing service pay from an employer in the organised sector, then the pension would not be paid during the period of such employment. The disbursement of pension would be undertaken through the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). In order to give further encouragement to our sportspersons to excel and also give our elite players an added feeling of security after their sports career, Shri Sunil Dutt, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports has taken a decision recently to make the facilities available to those sportspersons also who are drawing service pay from organisations. This liberal dispensation is expected to give a further incentive to our youth to excel and win medals in International Games.
As a result , another 115 eminent award winning athletes of yesteryears have become eligible and have been granted ‘Samman Pensions’. A sum of Rs.17 crore has been utilised during 2004-05 in this regard.
Under the scheme, life pensions can be sanctioned for the winners of Olympic Games; Gold, Silver & Bronze medallists at the World Cup/World Championships (in Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games disciplines); and Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists of Para-Olympics Games.
VBA/SK.
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