Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Sports Council’s food grant for student athletes has been suspended since April last year, creating severe financial difficulties for sports hostels and colleges.

With no government support, many colleges and hostels are struggling to secure funds to feed student-athletes. Some institutions have even shut down sports hostels, putting athletes at risk of dropping out.

Each student is entitled to ₹250 per day, totaling ₹7,500 per month. However, hostels have been running on credit, accumulating unpaid bills worth lakhs of rupees. By March, several colleges are facing difficulties in paying hostel canteen operators, further deepening the crisis.

Most student-athletes in sports hostels have come from other districts, choosing institutions based on specialised training opportunities. The continued delay in food grant disbursement has jeopardised their education and sports careers, leading to widespread concern among students, parents, and coaches.

Sports council’s response

The State Sports Council claims that payments for June and July 2024 have been cleared and that bills for August and September are being processed. The officials assured that funds would be transferred to hostels as soon as they are received.

Despite these assurances, the year-long delay has already caused severe disruptions, raising questions about funding priorities for student-athletes in Kerala.