Gill announces life-long scheme for former sportspersons

The government has decided to replace the three-year pension policy for country's former sportspersons by a life-long scheme with three Bengal athletes being the first beneficiaries.

Union sports minister MS Gill, after inaugurating a swimming pool complex at the SAI Eastern India centre, announced the government's decision here on Friday.

The beneficiaries include Olympians, swimmer Gora Chand Seal, who competed in the 1948 London Olympics and wrestler Niranjan Das, who participated in the 1956 Helsinki Games, besides cyclist Bani Ghosh.

"It's quite unfair to give pension for just three years which has been the policy so far. What will they do after the completion of three years?" Gill asked.

Talking to reporters, Gill also said that the government has decided to increase grant for the Sports Authority of India's nodal centre in the city by Rs 30 crore.

Gill also emphasised the need to have more NIS coaches in the country, announced a fixed tenure of 10 years for them and hiked the salary of the contracted coaches to Rs 15,000 from the earlier Rs 10,000.

Gill also announced that the kit allowance for the sportpersons will be made Rs 6,000 from an earlier Rs 3,000.