Amid resentment among sportspersons over recent orders of Haryana Government, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said that he has sent a proposal to the Chief Minister Manohar lal for an amendment in the sports policy to ensure that no deduction is made from the prize money of sportspersons.
“This proposal has been sent today. Once approved by the Chief Minister, it would be put up at the next meeting of the Cabinet,” Vij said while talking to the mediapersons.
“Even if we have to amend the policy 100 times for the betterment of sports, we will certainly do it," he said while responding to the queries of mediapersons related to the resentment among sportspersons. 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.
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.
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. 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.
Recently, another government’s order asking sportspersons from Haryana to hand over one third of their earnings from professional events and endorsement to the sports council, had stirred a controversy.