Context:
The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports recently felicitated players under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS) in New Delhi.
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Dimensions of the Article:
- Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS)
- Benefits
- Eligibility
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS):
- Established in March 1982, the PDUNWFS aims to provide assistance to exceptional sportspersons from the past who find themselves in challenging financial situations and have contributed to the nation’s sporting glory.
- In May 2016, the scheme was revised to offer lump sum ex-gratia assistance to these former sportspersons.
- The scheme covers sportspersons across India and is designed to enhance the well-being of athletes and alleviate distress among them and their dependents.
- Assistance from the scheme can be granted to active sportspersons either individually or collectively as a group.
Benefits:
Assistance to Sportspersons in Need:
- Lumpsum ex-gratia financial aid, up to a maximum of Rs. 5 lakh.
- Monthly pension of Rs. 5,000 for former meritorious sportspersons facing financial difficulties.
Assistance for Sports-Related Injuries:
- Lumpsum ex-gratia financial support, capped at Rs. 10 lakh, for injuries incurred during training or sports competitions.
Assistance to Families of Deceased Outstanding Sportspersons:
- Lumpsum ex-gratia financial assistance, not exceeding Rs. 5 lakh in each case, for the families of deceased outstanding sportspersons facing financial hardship.
Medical Treatment Assistance:
- Financial aid, not exceeding Rs. 10 lakh, can be provided for the medical treatment of an outstanding sportsperson or their indigent family members.
Support for Coaches, Support Personnel, Umpires, Referees, and Match Officials:
- Lumpsum financial assistance, not exceeding Rs. 2 lakh, may be granted to coaches, support personnel, and the families of deceased support personnel who are financially struggling.
Eligibility:
- The applicant must be a serving or retired sportsperson, including sports doctors, sports psychologists, sports mentors, physiotherapists, masseurs, coaches, support personnel, umpires, referees, and match officials.
- The applicant should have represented India at the national or international level in sports competitions.
- The annual income of the applicant’s self/family (from all sources) should not exceed Rs. 4 lakh.
- The applicant must fall into one of the following categories: injured during training or competitions, disabled due to strenuous training, living in indigent circumstances, or dependent on a deceased sportsperson.
-Source: The Hindu, PIB
