Renowned State players have a reason to smile after a long ordeal. The Sports Department which could not distribute the cash awards and scholarships of 2012-13 session is set to give away the same for 2013-14 session at Ram Dayal Munda Kala Bhawan on May 25.
Significantly, the effort is being taken after 2011 when the players were awarded for their outstanding performances in the 34th National Games held in the State Capital.
“The previous State Government failed to provide cash awards of 2012-13 year which resulted to the lapse of the funds. We have notified to felicitate cash awards or scholarships to all such deserving sports persons who are unemployed and not taking cash awards from other organisations. Sports Minister Amar Kumar Bauri will be distributing the awards on Monday,” an official of the Sports Department said.
“The names of the State players from various sports disciplines selected for the honour have been uploaded in the website www.jharkhand.go.in. They have been directed to bring an affidavit proving their unemployment and showing that they are not availing cash awards from another party,” the official added.
However, sources at the Sports Department mentioned the Government is working on managing the lapsed cash award amounts of 2012-13 session. “Sports Minister will also distribute the pending stipends soon,” confirmed sources.
The notification uploaded on the website of State Government includes three lists namely Cash Award 2013-14 TSP, Cash Award 2013-14 (as per rules proposed) TSP and Scholarship 2013-14 (as per the rules proposed) OSP.
There are 90 Hockey players, 4 Badminton players, 2 Taekwondo players, 1 Baseball player, 12 Bowlers, 3 Footballers, 1 Para National player, 29 Archers, 6 Wrestlers, 4 Boxers, 8 Athletes, 27 Wushu players and 9 Dose Ball players in the first list.
The second list covers 13 Archers, 16 Fencing players, 10 lawn Bowlers, 8 Badminton players, 1 Footballer, 4 Swimmers, 9 Taekwondo players, 23 Wrestlers, 11 Table Tennis players, 27 Wushu players, 4 Boxers, 1 Handicapped, 1 Cycling players and 8 Kabaddi players.
Meanwhile, the Scholarship 2013-14 list mentions the names of 20 Archers, 15 Taekwondo players, 1 Weightlifter, 1 lawn Bowler, 2 Cycling players, 11 Volleyball players, 2 Table Tennis players, 1 Handicapped, 2 Wrestlers and 3 Wushu players.
Jyoti Kumari, an International Wushu medalist of who clinched a gold medal in the last 35th National Games in Kerala counted among the listed achievers is yet to believe the Government’s decision. “Yes, I heard I will soon get the cash award of 2013. It is something we have been hearing over a year. Unless, the Government does not give the award in hand, I will not believe that they are appreciating us in true sense,” she said.
For State’s senior lawn Bowler Farzana Khan who has been clinching medals in many international and national tournaments and participating in the 5th National lawn Bowls scheduled at Ranchi from May 24 to 29 it is a late appreciation. “Most of the State lawn Bowlers earned international medals in 2012. But, the Government expressed inability to give us the previous cash award. We are jobless. They could have given both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 cash awards and scholarships together,” she said.