2,749 Khelo India Athletes Given Rs 30,000 Each

Athletes from 35 states and union territories have been given the allowances in 21 sporting disciplines.

NEW DELHI: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has deposited 30,000 rupees each as out of pocket allowance in accounts of 2,749 Khelo India athletes. The amount added up to 8.25 crore rupees in all.

Reacting to the disbursement of the Khelo India allowances, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju said that the athletes are our priority and will receive full support at all times.

In a press release, SAI said that the money has been transferred to the bank accounts of the athletes.

A total of 2,893 athletes will be given the pocket allowance with the funds for the remaining 144 athletes to be transferred by the end of this month. The allowance is for the first quarter of 2020-21.

Athletes from 35 states and union territories have been given the allowances in 21 sporting disciplines with the maximum number of them from Maharashtra (386), Haryana (381), Delhi (225), Punjab (202) and Tamil Nadu (165).

The out of pocket allowance is 1.20 lakh rupees annually and is a part of the Khelo India scholarship of 6.28 lakh rupees that is given to each athlete selected under the scheme.