Srinagar, July 11: Unlike his predecessors Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju is active even during Coronavirus Pandemic and has kow said that Sports Ministry will always be ready to help former sportspersons in need of held.
He said this in context of the ministry has been providing financial assistance to former athletes like 1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medallist boxer Dingko Singh in their times of crisis.
“I feel very sad when former athletes don’t have money for their medical treatment or their living condition is very bad. So, as far as possible we try to provide financial help to all the past and present sportspersons,” he said at a farewell of former athletics chief coach Bahadur Singh.
“There are a lot of athletes who win medals and achieve success and their commercial value is high. And there are also a lot of athletes who dedicated their lives for country’s sport but for some reason could not achieve success. They are forgotten by the society, ” He said.
“So, we will continue to provide financial assistance to all those sports persons who have represented the country in international events but currently facing financial problems in life.”
He said his ministry gives importance to the athletes. “The athletes should be given respect and dignity at every level of the society. If we are not doing that, we are giving a wrong message. I feel very sad when athletes are not given respect and dignity,” Rijiju said.