Chandigarh, February 19, 2017: Haryana Government is formulating a policy to provide employment to outstanding sports persons of the State in its different governments. The modalities of the policy are almost complete and an advertisement will soon be released to invite applications from the eligible sports persons.
This was announced by Chief Minister, Manohar Lal while presiding over a function to confer Bhim Awards,the highest sports award of the State, at Haryana Raj Bhawan here today.
The Chief Minister and Governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki conferred Bhim Awards upon 42 sports persons of the State for their outstanding performance at national and international level during the years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. The Bhim Award carries Rs five lakh in cash, an idol of Bhim, a scroll of honour, a blazer and tie or scarf. A total of Rs 2.10 crore were given away to the Bhim awardees during the function.
While congratulating the recipients of Bhim Award, the Chief Minister said that it had been observed that generally the outstanding sports persons were keen to join the police force, but instead they should try to utilize their experience in grooming the young budding sports persons of the State so as to make Haryana, a centre of sports in the country and the world. He exhorted the sports persons to apply under the policy to get employment.
He said that various programmes were being organized in the State to mark the Swarna Jayanti Year of Haryana. In the same series, ‘Khel Mahkumbh’ would be organized and it would be a two-month long programme to hold sports events at each block and district level. The venue for the final event is not yet decided, but most probably it would be held in Hisar. He said that India being a country of youth, as the people between 15 to 35 years of age constitute 65 per cent of its total population, various polices were being prepared to ensure their development. He said that to ensure the physical development of the children along with education, a unique sports policy has been implemented under which emphasis was being laid on ‘Catch them Young’ to groom the sports talent right from an early age. He said that there were about 550 sports stadia at block, district and State level adding that coaches would be provided in all these stadia so as to impart training to the sports persons. Therefore, recruitment of coaches is in progress, he added
He said that the State Government was promoting traditional sports of Haryana in a big way. As wrestling is one such game of the State which is played in almost every village, the State Government had organized Wrestling Championship with prize money of Rs one crore on the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23, 2016. This year also, a three-day wrestling Championship would be organized in Ambala on March 23. Similarly, All-India National Style Kabaddi Championship was organized at Rai in Sonipat with cash award of Rs one crore. The Kabaddi team of Haryana bagged the first position in the championship, he added.
He said that besides the rural areas, the State Government is also providing latest sports facilities to the sports persons in urban areas. While hockey Astroturf has been laid at seven places in the State, a synthetic track is being laid in Panchkula. An artificial ground for football is already functional at Fatehabad. He said that a multi-purpose hall would be constructed in all districts of the State. Also, Yuva Vikas Kendras would also be established in all districts at a cost of Rs five crore each. The State Government has also doubled the budget of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department to Rs 401 crore for the year 2016-17.
The Chief Minister said that , the State Government is making Haryana a sports hub. He said that wrestling mats would soon be provided to 100 Akharas in the State for which he has already sanctioned. He said that Haryana was giving the highest ever prize money in the world to its Olympics medal winners. He said that gold medal winner of Olympics was given Rs six crore whereas the silver and bronze medal winners were given Rs four crore and Rs 2.5 crore respectively.
Earlier, speaking on this occasion, Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mr Anil Vij congratulated the recipients of Bhim Award and said that every year 11 outstanding sports persons were honoured with this prestigious award. Out of these, three awards are for sports-persons of team games, five for games of individuals, two for sportspersons in Paralympics and one award for sports person of Special Olympics. Vij said that Haryana is fast moving towards becoming a sports hub. The present State Government has always been in the forefront in providing them due honour and assistance. During last year, award money of about Rs 100 crore was distributed among the sports persons and this included the pending prize money of previous State Government.
He said that it has been decided to open 20 sports nurseries in all districts of the State where the sports persons would be given stipend of Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 and facility of coach. Apart from this, the Chief Minister has also accorded approval to set up Multi-Purpose Hall in each district of the State. Also, there is a plan to set up athletic tracks in all districts of the State.
Among other present on this occasion included Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister O.P Dhankar, MLA Panchkula Gian Chand Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. K.K Khandelwal, Deputy Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh, Media Advisor Amit Arya, family members and well-wishers of recipients of Bhim Awards.