National Games Athletes yet to get prize money

The state government, which announced monetary rewards for World Cup-winning cricketers on Sunday, has failed to deliver on a similar promise it had made to National Games medallists in February

National Games Athletes yet to get prize money

The state government, which announced monetary rewards for World Cup-winning cricketers on Sunday, has failed to deliver on a similar promise it had made to National Games medallists in February

The state government has been prompt in announcingu00a0 a purse of Rs 1 crore each for the members of the World Cup team who hail from Maharashtra.

Markswoman Tejasvi Sawant, who has done the state proud in various national and international events, chose to give the government the benefit of the doubt

However, there lies abundant irony in the fact that the same state government is yet to shell out the prize money it had promised the medal winners of the 34th National Games held in Ranchi in February.

When the Games had ended in February, the state sports government had announced cash prizes worth Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh, for the gold, silver and bronze medallists respectively.

Since then, however, the proposal has been stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire. According to officials of the sports ministry, the payment of the prize money is getting delayed owing to the pending approval of the finance ministry.

The sportspersons representing the state bagged as many as 132 medals at the Games, surpassing every other state with 41 golds, 44 silvers and 47 bronze medals.

Some of the prominent achievers included markswoman Tejaswini Sawant and swimmer Virdhawal Khade, who won four and eight gold medals respectively.

Athletes speak

Vikram Khade, father of ace swimmer Virdhawal, is dismayed at the proceedings. "Like many other states, they had announced a prize money. While other states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Assam have already awarded the money, my son is yet to receive any.

Our lackadaisical state government always delays these payments, for sportspersons as well as for facilities. Perhaps this is why sportsmen prefer to represent other states. The government as well as the people of the state should give sports other than cricket their due importance.

Tejaswini Sawant, the shooter who won four gold medals at the Games, said, "I was out of the country and returned only recently.
u00a0
I don't know anything about the issue, but have heard about it from Virdhawal. The delay could be due to technical problems and the state could have its own reasons. We should be
hopeful."

The Other Side
State Finance Minister Rajendra Mulak said, "I am not aware of this matter, but I will definitely look into it and inquire into why the proposal has been pending." Padmakar Walvi, state sports minister, and Pradeep Vyas, finance and planning secretary, both refrained from commenting on the matter.