<span style="color: #222222;">Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said government is implementing the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons Scheme.<br />''<br />'' The Minister said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha that the Scheme provides for grant of suitable financial assistance to outstanding sportspersons now living in indigent condition, medical treatment, procurement of sports equipments, participation in national and international events. <br />''<br />''Assistance under this Fund is demand driven and financial assistance is provided to eligible players based on applications. Under this scheme, financial assistance of over 2 crore 54 lakh rupees has been released to 78 athletes and former athletes and coaches from April, 2020 to January this year. <br />''<br />''This also includes the sportspersons who requested to provide financial assistance for the situation reasoned due to Covid related issues.</span>