Tata Steel has come up with sports scholarships for children of its permanent employees.

The scholarship scheme is for unemployed children of employees who have participated or have won medals in national or international competitions. Applicants can apply under two categories – under 20 and under 25 years of age. The last date for submitting applications is December 1.

According to the scholarship scheme, selected candidates who have represented India internationally will be given a sum of Rs 10,000 per month, while those who have won medals at the national level will get a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000.

The scholarship will be given to general sportspersons (male and female) for sports recognised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The disciplines recognised by IOA includes – aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, billiards and snooker, bowling, boxing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi, karate, kayaking and canoeing, kho-kho, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.

Apart from general category, specially-abled sportspersons (male and female) can also benefit from the scholarship scheme. Five males and females falling under the intellectually/physically/visually challenged and hearing impaired categories will be considered for this category.

Applications can be filled and sent to the company’s sports department at JRD Tata Sports Complex.  “Applications can be sent to office.headsports@tatasteel.com or anand.m@tatasteel.com,” an official of the company’s sports wing informed. The 5-member committee will go through the applications and finalise the successful candidates.

Tata Steel’s contribution to sports is well-known. Besides setting up four sports academies for football, hockey, archery and sport climbing, the company also runs training centres for athletics, handball, archery, basketball, golf, swimming, table tennis, boxing, chess and karate. The company also boasts of having a dedicated sports department that employs former and current international sportspersons.

Several children of Tata employees hone their skills under experienced hands at training centres which operate from JRD Tata Sports Complex.

The steel giant has, in the past, produced international sportspersons, including archers Deepika Kumari, Jayanta Talukdar, Komalika Bari, Ankita Bhakat and athlete Sinimol Paulose to name a few.