The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs issued a clarification today over the cash award scheme for successful athletes and coaches days after disgruntled sportspersons held a press conference to complain about how they were supposedly passed over for the awards, are facing inordinate delays and how their sports are not being funded adequately.
Many of the athletes were from martial arts. One of the sports association’s officials also wanted the cash awards to be uniform across age categories.
Today, a press release issued by the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs said that the cash award scheme was notified in 2022 and since then 3,500 athletes and coaches have received more than Rs 6 crore across 30 disciplines at state, regional, national and international events.
After applications are made under the scheme, the department conducts checks and verifications “to ensure an accountable process despite the significant number of applications being sent to the department.”
The Director also said that awards proportional to age category is a standard practice across other states as well as the central government.
Meanwhile, besides the awards, another 350-plus athletes have received sports scholarships for 2024-25. These scholarships start at Rs 5,000 per month.
