Criteria for providing jobs to State and National Level Sports Persons

Criteria for providing jobs to State and National Level Sports Persons
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that as per the instructions issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, sportspersons who have represented a State or the country in the National or International competitions, Inter-university tournaments conducted by the Inter-University Sports Boards, State School Teams in the National Sports/Games conducted by the All India School Games Federation and those awarded with National Awards in Physical Efficiency under the National Physical Efficiency Drive, are eligible for being considered for appointment in Central Government offices against the vacancies reserved for meritorious sportspersons.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Sonowal said, in terms of existing instructions of the Government, upto 5% of direct recruit vacancies in Group ‘C’ and erstwhile Group ‘D’ are reserved for meritorious sportspersons in Central Government offices.

He said, Ministries/Department of Government of India can recruit meritorious sportsmen in any year in relaxation of the recruitment procedure, to the extent that these, including all other reservations under exisiting orders, do not exceed 50% of the total number of vacancies proposed to be filled by direct recruitment. Central Government organizations and Public Sector undertakings recruit meritorious sportspersons including medal winners in international sports events from time to time for which they advertise in Employment News and other newspapers.

The Minister said, meritorious sportspersons are also eligible for monthly pension under the Scheme titled “Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons”. Sportspersons who have won medals in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Cups/World Championships (in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines) and Paralympic Games, after they attain the age of 30 years or retire from active sports, whichever is later, are eligible for monthly pension.

Shri Sonowal said, the Scheme of National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons provides ex-gratia financial assistance to outstanding sportspersons of yesteryears, now living in indigent circumstances, whose annual income is less than Rs. 2 lakh for medical treatment etc.

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Source : PIB (Release ID :116402)