State to formulate policy on jobs to int’l sportspersons
In an attempt to check the migration of sportspersons to other States, the Odisha Government on Saturday decided to formulate a special policy soon to provide jobs to the sportspersons who win medals in international events.
Following the announcement of Odisha’s rowing queen Pratima Puhan to join the Punjab squad for lack of any employment opportunity in the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik convened a high-level meeting to discuss the problems of sportspersons and decide the possible measures to check their migration.
Pratima was a bronze medalist in the 2010 Asiad in the pair rowing event and also had won gold medal in the 14th Asian Junior Rowing Championship. The recipient of the Biju Patnaik Best Sportspersons Award 2013 on the National Sports Day was disappointed over the State Government’s lack of encouragement to the sportspersons who bring laurels to the State in national and international events.
It was decided to formulate a special policy to provide jobs to the State’s internationally famed sportspersons in Government and public sector offices, said Sports Minister Sudam Marndi. Senior officials of different departments were present at the meeting.
Marndi said the new policy to provide jobs to the sportspersons of international repute would be formulated in the line of the policies being adopted in the States like Punjab and Haryana.
At present, the Odisha Government provides one-per cent reservation to sportspersons in Government services. The issue to review the present reservation status for sportspersons would also be considered, Marndi said.