The State Government felicitated 2013-14 cash awards to the international and national players of Jharkhand on Monday. However, the event was marked with several errors in the felicitation. The amount of cash awards was comparatively low. Moreover, many sports disciplines and their players were skipped in the notified list of awardees.
Sports Minister Amar Kumar Bauri accepted the faults and assured to rectify the issues by the year end. The government took such an initiative after three years. It was last held for 2011-12 session. As a result of the faults, the cash awards of around 90 Hockey players including Former Indian Women’s Captain Ashunta lakra were postponed today.
“We apologies publicly before the players who feel the government has done injustice. The cash award ceremony for 2014-15 session will be also be held by this year wherein the previous missed cash awards will also be distributed,” said Bauri who is also the Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister.
The sports department is in process of availing the lapsed cash award funds of 2012-13 session. Bauri told The Pioneer that he is trying to ensure the pending financial honour to all the deserving players.
like Bauri, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Avinash Kumar apologized to the artists as well as players who had to suffer due faults made by sports department. The Sports Department has invited suggestions from the players on how such errors can be avoided.
Physically challenged athlete Ajay Kumar Paswan from Dhanbad and Yoga player Archana Kumari were among the sufferers of the injustice. “I was supposed to get Rs 72,000 but the government gave me a cheque of Rs 36,000. It is half of the calculated amount,” said Ajay.
Archana on the other hand had submitted her valid documents to the Sports Department before the retirement of Former Sports Director Dadan Choubey in January. “Previously, my name was supposed to be included in the list of awardees. later, it did not happen though I had submitted the proper documents. Sports Minister told me to attend the cash award ceremony so I came here. Unfortunately, there was no consideration,” said Archana who had shined in World Youth Cup Yoga Championship.
As many as 234 players from Athletics, Taekwondo, Archery, Cycling, Volleyball, Wrestling, Wushu, Table Tennis, lawn Bowls, Weightlifting, Boxing, Baseball, Badminton, Fenci and Swimming were felicitated here along with 41 artists of various art and culture fields. 16 Institutions were also given the cash award for their outstanding performances.
Ace Archer Deepika Kumari was also listed in the awardees. However, she did not turned up on the occasion.
Veteran artist SD Kedia and two few senior artists were given life Time Award.