In a major initiative Punjab Government has decided to set aside 125 jobs every year exclusively for the national and international players.
“While giving away prizes to the players on Monday, I noticed that most of them are looking for job security. And I have agreed to the proposal of deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to set aside minimum 125 jobs in different categories for the players,” said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal while addressing the players in a function organised to confer Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. Badal said that he has asked the Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Sports Minister to submit the proposal in this regard in the next Cabinet meeting.
Also advising the players not to leave sports after joining service, Badal said that they should dedicate first five years of their service to promote their games and nurture talent in the villages. He also requested the veteran players to adopt at least one village for promotion of sports for which State Government would provide them total support.
Badal recalled, “I thought of introducing this award after seeing the condition of former Olympic player, who was grazing the animals in those days…horrified by his condition, he announced Rs1 lakh award for maximum 15 players annually with the social security setup.”
Asking the sports officials to properly monitor the implementation of government schemes, Badal said that he would expect that every official goes to the field to supervise the implementation of the schemes.
He also directed the Sports Department to work out a plan for constant maintenance of sports infrastructure.
Sukhbir, addressing sportspersons, said that he was moving with the focused approach to uplift the sports department. “Punjab would set up Institute of Sports Excellence at Mohali next month with its sub-centres at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Mohali,” he said.
He added that the Sports Department would also engage the services of foreign coaches to nurture sports talent, and the budding players’ — right from primary schools — would be provided boarding, loading, scientific training, diet, kits and all other facilities till they are trained to compete an international event.
He said that Sports Department will launch a systematic talent hunt in the villages and thanked Chief Minister for launching a Job Security Plan for the sportspersons.
As many as 67 outstanding sportspersons from different sports disciplines were conferred the highest State sports award — Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. The prestigious sports award, instituted in 1978, carries cash prize money of Rs 2 lakh, a trophy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh astride horse back in warrior dress, a blazer with pocket, a tie and a scroll of honour.
last time this award was distributed in 2004. With distribution of prizes on April 29, number of awardees stand at 191, including 67 from year 2005 to 2010. The awardees on Monday included 10 outstanding players of year 2005, nine of 2006, 14 of 2007, 14 of 2008, nine of 2009 and 11 players of 2010. It may be added that the Award is given to 15 outstanding players every year on the basis of their performance in the preceding five years.
One Award each in the disciplines of cricket, circle kabaddi and physically handicapped Games is also given.