Giving in-principle nod to the state’s new Sports Policy-2018, Punjab Cabinet has decided to enhance awards for its sportspersons in recognition of excellence in national and international performances — aimed at promoting sports among youth.
At the same time, the Cabinet has also authorized the Chief Minister to decide on the matter of issuing separate guidelines for recruitment under the Sports quota.
Underlining the need to ‘catch them young’ to groom budding players, the Chief Minister said that the State Government was committed to continuing with three percent reservation in all jobs of the State Government, as well as in its Boards, Corporations, Cooperative or Statutory bodies and local authorities for graded sportspersons who are residents of Punjab and have represented the state at national level.
The Cabinet also decided to enhance existing amount cash award to sportspersons in recognition of their outstanding performance at various national and international tournaments or championships.
In case of Olympic or Paralympics Games, the existing cash award of Rs 1.01 crore has been increased to Rs 1.50 crore for Silver medallists, and from Rs 51 lakh to Rs one crore for Bronze medalists, whereas the cash award of Rs 2.25 crore for Gold medalists remains unchanged.
In Asian or Para Asian Games, existing cash award of Rs 26 lakh has been enhanced to Rs one crore for Gold medal, from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 75 lakh for Silver and from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for Bronze medal.
Similarly, in Official World Cup or Championship, the existing cash prize has been increased from Rs 21 lakh to Rs 80 lakh for Gold medal, Rs 11 lakh to Rs 55 lakh for Silver and Rs seven lakh to Rs 45 lakh for Bronze medal.
In Commonwealth Games or Para Commonwealth Games, gold medallists would now get enhanced cash award of Rs 75 lakh against earlier Rs 16 lakh, Rs 50 lakh for Silver from existing Rs 11 lakh, and Rs 40 lakh for Bronze from Rs six lakh.
Spokesperson said that the new policy would help involve the state’s youth in sports and physical activities. Besides, it would also be instrumental in building talent and excellence of sportspersons so as to enable them to bring laurels to the state at various national and international levels while participating in different sports competitions.
Highlighting the new components of Maharaja Ranjit Singh award, which is an expression of appreciation and gratitude of the state to the medal winners for winning laurels for the state and country, spokesperson said that under the new policy, top 20 players and one differently-abled player, who have won medal and participated in various international level tournaments and have been graded on a scale of 100 points as per the guidelines, will be selected every year.
All Padma, Arjuna and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratana Awardees, who were sportspersons of Punjab, would be automatically eligible for awards in addition to the select 20 players. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awardee shall get Rs five lakh as cash award with Trophy and Blazer, and would be entitled to health insurance cover of Rs one lakh per year for indoor treatment for five years.
In addition, the state Government would also provide financial support as pension to veteran players who have won a medal at various international tournaments or championships, and have attained age of 40 years and are not employed or have an annual income of Rs six lakh or more per annum.
The pension would be in addition to any sports pension being provided by the Central Government or any other agency except a pension as retired government employee by any government, in which case he would not be eligible for pension.
The State Government would grant pension of Rs 15,000 per month to a medal winner in Olympics, Rs 7500 per month to a medal winner in Asian or Commonwealth games and World Games, Rs 5,000 per month for national games medal winners, who have won at least two medals in last five national games.
To motivate coaches, cash award would be given to those who have trained players who win medals in Olympics, World Championships, Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Such coaches, who have trained at least for one year and whose trained players win medals would be given cash award equivalent to 40 percent of the cash award, which the player shall be entitled to under this policy.
In case of multiple players winning medals in events other than team events who have been trained by a coach, for every additional medal, the coach would be entitled to 20 percent of the cash award to which the additional players are entitled to.
In case of team events, the coach will be entitled to the same amount of cash award as a single player as team member is entitled to.