Sports Ministry Launches Online Portal For Schemes, Rewards, Benefits

Deserving athletes and former sportspersons will now not be required to run after national federations and government offices to get their rewards and dues as the Sports Ministry has made the processes online.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday launched three major initiatives of his department -- online portal for schemes of department of sports, national sports development fund (NSDF) website and revised scheme of cash award, national welfare and pension to sportspersons.

While active athletes who seek recognition and rewards from the government can now apply online on the portal of department of sports, corporates, PSUs and individuals can contribute to NSDF fund on its newly-built website.

Thakur termed the initiatives "revolutionary", saying they will help in bringing transparency and accountability, besides giving a push to the government's digital India mission.

"We will continue to provide facilities to our athletes but if we can integrate technology with these facilities it can be very beneficial.

"If an athlete had to seek for rewards and recognition from the government after a good performance, they had to go via the federation or SAI earlier, then it went through scrutiny and it took almost a year or two for these athletes to get their dues," he said during the launch.

Thakur also appealed to the countrymen, private entities and PSUs to contribute to the NSDF for the development of Indian sports.

Asked if the process of National Sports Awards, given on the National Sports Day, can be made online, the minister said: "I will take it as a good suggestion. We will take note of this."

All contributions to NSDF will get exemptions from income tax.