Free Education to Sports persons

Free Education to Sportspersons

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Jitendra Singh has said that University Grants Commission has already introduced a new scheme titled ‘Free Education for Sports Medal Winners/Participants of National/International Events’ in August, 2012.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, aims and objectives of this scheme are to provide financial assistance to the medal winners/elite sportspersons studying in Universities/colleges leading to all the full time regular courses including Post Graduate Diploma and other professional courses and to motivate the sportspersons to achieve higher levels of performance by assisting them financially in relation to education and sports development. The scheme is applicable to sportspersons who are medal winners in National games or participants in recognized international sporting events.

The Minister said, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 already provides for free and compulsory education to every child of the age of 6 to 14 years in a neighborhood school till completion of elementary education. The RTE Act, 2009 also provides for:

(i) a play ground for each school;

(ii) A part time instructor for physical education in upper primary school;

(iii) Supply of play material, games and sports equipment, as required, to schools.