New Delhi, August 24
A week after former athlete Makhan Singh’s case was highlighted in The Tribune, the government today said it was going to formulate a policy for the welfare of sportspersons.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, in response to a matter raised by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, promised to come up with a new policy for post-retirement rehabilitation of sportspersons.

Swaraj had pointed out some media reports about the financial trouble being faced by the athlete’s wife and children. The Tribune had highlighted the issue in its August 18 edition detailing how Makhan Singh had beaten legendary Milkha Singh during the 1962 national games at Calcutta and that his family was now living in penury.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Avinash Rai Khanna had raised the matter in the House and The Tribune had followed up the first report with another report on August 21 highlighting that the former athlete’s wife wanted to sell off his medals, including the Arjuna Award, to sustain the family.

Swaraj, who raised the issue during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha today, said the government should come up with a comprehensive policy to ensure financial security for sportspersons in the country. She urged the sports ministry to make immediate provisions for providing financial help to the widow and other family members of the sportsman. “We should be ashamed we can’t help them,” she said, adding that the government should come up with a comprehensive policy to provide financial security to all athletes. She suggested setting up pension or an employment system for such sportspersons. All awards could be graded and have a system of benefits, she said.

Kamal Nath said the Ministry of Petroleum, through its sports federation, would get in touch with the family of the late athlete and provide it with financial assistance.