Page 26 - NIS English 16-31 August 2025

Khelta Bharat,
COVER STORY Khilta Bharat

Government with the Players

Khel Nidhi: Lifelong pension to meritorious players
Holding hands from For meritorious players who make the country proud, the government
debut to retirement gives them financial security along with a lifelong pension from Khel
The past decade has been like a Nidhi. Under this, after retiring from an active sports career, the player is
golden era for sports and players given a monthly pension of Rs 12 thousand to Rs 20 thousand for life.
in India. Through various Players who win medals in the Olympics, Paralympics, World Cup, World
initiatives and schemes, while the Championship, Asian Games, Para Asian Games, and Commonwealth
government is nurturing talent Games are eligible for this pension.
from urban areas to rural areas,
it has also supported the athletes RESET: A chance for retired players to
at every stage in their entire prove themselves again
journey. With a comprehensive When a player is on the field, the government takes
framework to promote sports, financial care of his training, nutrition, and family
socio-economic security of the needs, but there have been many occasions
players has also been ensured. when the player does not get a chance to
join the sport again after retirement. The
Central government launched the Retired
Player Empowerment Training
(RESET) program in 2024 to
give retired players a chance to prove
themselves again. This initiative gives
retired players an opportunity for education,
internship, and skill-building, according
to them. While its goal is to meet the
employment needs of retired players, it
also aims to meet the lack of human resources
in coaching, administration, mentoring, and
other areas in the sports sector of India,
emerging as a sports superpower.

Divyang: So that no talent is left out
Government has launched the Sports and Games Scheme for Divyang,
which promotes inclusive and participatory sports among them at the
grassroots level. Emerging and high-performing para-athletes from
here get separate assistance through National Sports Federations.

were excellent players in the country even before, but Sports inculcate a sportsman spirit,
there were no policies to support them. There was which is important both on and off
no system of good coaching, modern infrastructure,
or necessary financial help. In the last 11 years, the the field. And this is why Prime
country has come out of that old thinking and old
system. Today, there are many such players in the Minister Narendra Modi often says
country, on whose training to travel and from fitness - Jo khele, wo khile.
experts to trainers, crores of rupees are being spent.

24 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || August 16-31, 2025