The Hindu : Sport : Sports quota jobs to be filled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 14, 2004

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Sports quota jobs to be filled

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCT. 13. The Government will take steps within a specified time frame to clear the backlog of providing jobs to sportspersons under the sports quota, the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, has said.

Inaugurating the Kerala Sports Council Founder's Day celebrations and distributing the G.V. Raja awards to athletes K.M. Binu and Jincy Philip at a simple yet colourful ceremony at the KSC auditorium here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said his Government would honour the commitment of providing 100 jobs to sportspersons annually in various Deparments.

Mr. Chandy also revealed that orders had already been issued to the Police Department to recruit suitable sportspersons and revive the teams in the various disciplines. He said the recruitment to the various Police teams had come to a standstill because sportspersons were earlier given out-of-turn promotions and this had led to litigation.

Mr. Chandy said the new recruits would not be given any promotions out-of-turn but rewarded with adequate cash awards and additional increments. The priority would be to promote sports within the Police Department without affecting the morale of the general recruits.

He said what restricted the Government from allotting more funds for the promotion of sports and games in the State was the financial constraints being faced by the Government. However, he assured the gathering, that his Government would still be providing sufficient funds working within the restraints faced by it.

Mr. Chandy said each State had a duty to promote sports and games in a big way. "It is rather shameful that the world's second most populous country lagged behind in sports and each State, I think, is duty bound to promote sports and games and thereby help the national cause."

The Chief Minister also hoped that the G.V. Raja award — the highest honour in the State for sportspersons carrying a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a plaque — would inspire both Binu and Jincy to bigger achievements.

The Sports Minister, Dominic Presentation, in his presidential address said the rules under the Kerala Sports Act were being drawn up and that these would be notified soon. He said once the rules came into force, budding talents could be given specialised training right from the panchayat level.

In their acceptance speeches, Binu and Jincy said they would strive hard to live up to the expectations of the people of the State. Jincy, currently working as an Inspector with the CRPF, who petitioned the Chief Minister for a suitable posting in the Kerala Police, also received an assurance from Mr. Chandy that her request would be considered favourably. The Chief Minister also presented gifts on behalf of the KSC to Jincy's parents, who were present.

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