GUWAHATI, April 23 � The Sports Department of the State Government has distributed sports pension to 166 and financial assistance (ex- gratia) to 20 in a function held at the Rudra Singha Indoor Stadium here today.
Altogether 146 sportspersons were given pension for the period from December 2013 to February 2014 while other 20 received pension for the period of August 2014 to February 2015. The financial assistance to 20 sportspersons were given away for the period of 2014 to 2015.
Punilal Das of Nagaon was given a one time assistance of Rs 1 lakh from the Chief Minister�s fund. Boxer Shiva Thapa was also given Rs 10 lakh.
Apart from sportspersons, several sports organisations and NGOs were also offered financial assistance in the function.
Arjuna Award winning athlete Bhogeswar Baruah and international Tayabun Nisha were not present in the function to receive their pensions. Nisha was selected for one time financial assistance. Earlier, both the noted sportspersons announced that they will reject the pension seeing irregularities in selection process.
Sports Minister Ajit Singh, Sports Commissioner and Secretary Ajay Tiwari, SAI Regional Sub-Centre Director Subhash Basumatary, journalist Premadhar Sharma and AOA official Pradip Kr Hazarika were present on the occasion. Director of Sports Anjan Sarma welcomed the recipients and elaborated about the motto of the scheme.
