Lok Sabha Question No. 1774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-28
Subject: National Sports Award to Sportspersons
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Rebati Tripura, Dhanush M Kumar, Vijay Kumar Dubey, Sandhya Ray, Subrata Pathak, Ganesan Selvam

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1774

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2019

National Sports Award to Sportspersons

†1774. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA :

SHRI REBATI TRIPURA :

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR :

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY :

SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY :

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK :

SHRI SELVAM G. :

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  sportspersons  who  have  been  shortlisted  and given  National  Sports  Award  for  the  year  2019  by  the  Selection Committee;
- (b) whether the Government has also awarded special honours and cash award to sportspersons who have brought glory to the country and  if  so,  the  amount  of  cash  award  announced  and  given  to sportspersons during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  scheme  for  providing  assistance  for livelihood to these sportspersons after their retirement or at elderly age;
- (d)  if  so,  the  number  of  sportspersons  benefited  so  far  from  this scheme;
- (e) if not, whether the Government proposes to work out any such
- scheme in the future and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  welfare  of sportspersons in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [KIREN RIJIJU]

- (a) :   Information relating to number of sportspersons shortlisted for Sports  Awards  by  the  Selection  Committee  and  of  sportspersons given awards is as below :-
- (b) :   Cash award is given to the sportspersons for winning medals in  international  sports  events  under  'The  Special Awards to Medal winners in International Sports events and their Coaches Scheme'. The  information  relating  to  the  amount  of  cash  award  given  to sportspersons during each of the last three years and the current year (as on 25.11.2019) are as under :

|   S. No. | Name of Sports Award                    |   No. of Sports Persons Shortlisted |   No. of Sports Persons given Awards |
|----------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|        1 | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award           |                                  06 |                                   02 |
|        2 | Dronacharya Award (Regular Category)    |                                  06 |                                   03 |
|        3 | Dronacharya Award (Life Time category)  |                                  07 |                                   03 |
|        4 | Arjuna Award                            |                                  36 |                                   19 |
|        5 | Dhyan Chand Award                       |                                  08 |                                   05 |
|        6 | Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar Award |                                  09 |                                   03 |
|        7 | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy   |                                  04 |                                   01 |

|   S. No. | Year    |   No. of Sportspersons/ coaches | Amount (in Rs.)   |
|----------|---------|---------------------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | 2016-17 |                             854 | 20,95,82,321      |
|        2 | 2017-18 |                             489 | 11,60,12,500      |
|        3 | 2018-19 |                             307 | 24,86,20,000      |
|        4 | 2019-20 |                             502 | 41,68,34,000      |

(c):  Yes  Sir.  Ministry  is  implementing  the  Scheme  of  'Pension  to Meritorious Sportspersons' for providing lifelong monthly pension to medal  winners  of  Olympic  Games,  Asian  Games,  Commonwealth Games, etc. after they retire from active sports and  the Scheme of 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons'  (PDUNWFS)'  for  providing  financial  assistance  to sportspersons of yesteryears now living in indigent circumstances.

(d) : At  present,  627  sportspersons  are  getting  lifelong    pension ranging  from  Rs.12000-20000  per  month  under  the  Scheme  of 'Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons'. Details of financial assistance given to sportspersons under PDUNWFS scheme during last 3 years and the current years (as on 25.11.2019) are as under :

|   S. No. |   Number of sportspersons given assistance | Amount (in Rs.)   |
|----------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|        1 |                                         03 | 12,85,000         |
|        2 |                                         06 | 25,37,500         |
|        3 |                                         12 | 66,00,000         |
|        4 |                                         12 | 49,32,415         |

(e) : Does not arise.

(f) :   Other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  welfare  of  the sportspersons  include  the  facility  of  complimentary  card  passes given  by  Ministry  of  Railways  to  Arjuna  Awardees,  Dronacharya Awardees etc.,  which  entitle  them  lifelong  free  rail  travel  for  self and for companion on attaining the age of 65 years and provision of upto  5%  reservation  in  direct  recruitment  in  Group  'C'  posts  for meritorious sportspersons in Central Government.

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