Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Friday said that sports persons of the state who won medals at the Commonwealth Games 2018 and other sports competitions would be given award money as per the earlier sports policy within one year.
Manohar lal informed this while interacting with the mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Wrestling Academy at Kharkhoda in Sonipat district.
In reply to a question concerning the award money of medal winning players of Commonwealth Games, the Chief Minister said that few changes had been made in the sports policy but the players were not agreeing to these amendments.
Therefore, now it has been decided to give them award money as per the earlier sports policy within a period of one year, he said.
Notably, the State Government had to cancel the April 26 felicitation function for the states Commonwealth Games medal winners following threats of boycott from the top athletes over the proposed cut in their prize money.
Top athletes such as gold medalists wrestler Vinesh Phogat (women’s free style), javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, wrestler Bajrang Punia, bronze medallist Manoj Kumar among others had hinted at boycotting the event over the proposed cut in the prize money.
According to Haryana’s sports policy, a CWG gold medallist from the state is to get Rs 1.5 crore, a silver medallist Rs 75 lakh and a bronze medallist Rs 50 lakh. But the State Government had announced that as per the sports policy, in case of athletes who represent institutions such as the Army or Railways and are given cash prizes by them, the Haryana Government would deduct the amount given by the institution from their stated cash award.
The move was to affect a total of 13 of the 22 sportspersons from Haryana representing central government organizations such as Indian Railways and Indian Army.
The opposition parties had also hit out the BJP led Haryana Government over the cancellation of April 26 felicitation ceremony,
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the issue of cleanliness, the Chief Minister made it clear that cleanliness would be completely taken care of.
Necessary directions have been issued to the district administration in this regard. Arrangements for cleanliness would be made from today itself in cities and towns, he added.
A day before, the agitating safai karamcharis in the state had announced to go on an indefinite strike for press for their demands. Around 30000 municipal workers including safai karamcharis have been protesting since last Wednesday across the state over the demands of regularisation of contractual employee, equal pay for equal work among others.