Tendulkar wants international medallists in CGHS scheme

Legendary Sachin Tendulkar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to include all international medallists in Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

Talking about the plight that elite sportspersons go through when facing health issues, Tendulkar in his letter cited the example of Hockey Olympic gold medallist Mohammed Shahid's last days. "I am writing to you as a concerned sportsperson on behalf of all the sportsperson in our country requesting your kind intervention for inclusion of all sportsperson who have won medals internationally in the list of sportsperson eligible for CGHS facilities,"

Tendulkar wrote to Modi on October 24, a copy of which is in possession of PTI.

CGHS is availed by all Central Government employees who have access to medical centres which is associated with this scheme.

Tendulkar, in his letter to PM Modi, informed him that he had earlier taken up the issue with both sports ministry and health ministry. "They (Health Ministry) were supportive of the idea but shared their inability to consider wider range of sportsperson under CGHS scheme through their reply dated September 14. I completely appreciate and understand their position basis our original request," Tendulkar wrote.

Tendulkar has requested PM to at least consider inclusion of international medallists (non Govt employees) on a "pilot/test', whose cost benefits can be assessed by the sports ministry. "Once we analyse the cost/benefits the same can be extended to additional categories of sportspersons in a phased manner, after value of Pilot Programme is assessed by Health Ministry," the maestro wrote.