Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an appeal to the sportspersons who have been newly recruited in the police force to continue to practice and prepare for their best performance as “it is often seen that these players often stop practicing as soon as they get a government job”.

Distributing appointment letters to 233 constables selected under the skilled player quota through the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board in the auditorium of Lok Bhavan, the chief minister said, “The state government expects the same professionalism from you with which you were selected in the Uttar Pradesh Police force. Continue your practice as you play for UP Police and the state. When you sense it is time to hand over the baton, act as a coach.”

During the event, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that players from Uttar Pradesh as well as from different states were also being made a part of the Uttar Pradesh Police force. “This is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat programme, which aims to respect the players who selflessly serve the nation,” he added.

Chief Minister Yogi said that in the last six years, work had been done to increase recruitment in the Uttar Pradesh Police force in a transparent manner. “Earlier questions were raised on the recruitment and selection process. In the past six years, the state has successfully finalised recruitment of over 1,54,000 police personnel,” he said adding, “Another 2,492 positions meant for dependents of deceased personnel have been filled through the selection process.”

The chief minister said that this appointment would remove the shortage of sportspersons in the police force. “Earlier, on July 8 also, we had distributed appointment letters to 227 players. In that too there were national and international players. The appointment letters distributed today include 154 men and 79 women who are becoming part of the Uttar Pradesh Police force,” the chief minister said.

He said that the state police had done the work of changing the perception of Uttar Pradesh in the country today. “Today, whenever there is a problem of law and order anywhere in the country, people say that the police of Uttar Pradesh should be called. An atmosphere of security has been created in the mind of every section. Festivals and events are being celebrated peacefully, and all programmes are being held,” he added.

“Due to improvement in law and order, significant investments are also flowing into the state. You may have already come across the recent report from the Reserve Bank of India according to which Uttar Pradesh stands at the forefront as the nation’s top destination for both attracting and making investments,” he said.

“If the Uttar Pradesh Police force has played a pivotal role in driving this transformation, it has equally contributed to reshaping the perception of both the state government and the youth. When sportspersons like you also become a part of the state police force and win medals for the Uttar Pradesh Police, it will undoubtedly enhance the image of Uttar Pradesh,” the chief minister said.

Chief Minister Yogi said that several sports programmes were being announced by the Sports and Youth Welfare department. “A playground and open gym should be constructed in the village from the village head fund to encourage participation of children in sports practice. After forming Yuvak Mangal Dal and Mahila Mangal Dal in every Gram Panchayat, 65,000 youth and women’s youth teams have been provided sports kits,” he said.

Chief Minister Yogi emphasised the support extended by the Uttar Pradesh government to sportspersons, highlighting the efforts ranging from integrating them into government positions as gazetted officers to including them within the police force and various departments. “We have made a provision of a different amount for the player who wins a medal for the country in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asiad or World Championship. Not only this, assistance of Rs 10 lakh each is being provided as incentive to the players participating in the Olympic Games and Rs 5 lakh to those participating in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games,” he pointed out.

“The state government has taken significant steps by appointing former international players as coaches, along with national-level players as coaches at the district and development block levels. The government is actively working at all levels to provide encouragement by enhancing the facilities of players,” the chief minister said.