Elite athletes to get Rs. 50,000 monthly stipend
What's the story
The ministry of sports and youth affairs has decided to pay each elite athlete, preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games, and the Tokyo Olympics, a monthly stipend of Rs. 50,000.
Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore announced on Friday that the amount would be used by the athletes for their out of pocket expenses, thus accepting the recommendation of the Olympic Task Force.
Details
152 athletes selected under Target Olympic Podium scheme
As many as 152 elite athletes were selected by the government under the Target Olympic Podium scheme.
The Target Olympic Podium scheme was formulated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with the objective of identifying and supporting potential medal prospects.
As promised, the selected athletes would be provided with financial assistance for their customized training.
Recommendations
Olympic Task Force's recommendations to be implemented?
The Olympic Task Force had submitted an extensive report, which has a slew of path-breaking recommendations so as to improve India's overall performance at the Games, earlier this week.
With Rathore (who is an Olympic silver medallist himself) at the helm, one can hope that most of these recommendations would be accepted and implemented.
The announcement on Friday is an indication to just that.