Imphal, September 10: Complaining against the failure of the Government to keep its promise of providing jobs, State players who won gold medals in the National Games have decided not to take part in the upcoming National Games at Jharkhand if the Government does not come out with a white paper on the matter within the current month.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, the aggrieved State players lamented that inspite of the resolution of the State Cabinet to extend suitable job offer to all the gold medalists of the National Games and setting up of a High Power Committee headed by Chief Secretary as chairman in this regard, the Government has done nothing towards keeping its promise.

They pointed out that acting on the instruction of the High Power Committee, the Joint Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports Department had even issued a notification on April 24 last requesting for providing the details of post vacancy in all the departments.

However, when they investigated into the matter, it has come to light that there is no transparency and the file seems to have gone missing.

Further, when they approached the Sports Minister in this connection, the latter allegedly told them that there is no guarantee as such that job would be provided to any players who have won gold medals and they should stop playing if getting Government job is their only concerned.

Such remarks from the Sports Minister himself is deplorable, the aggrieved players said, adding that the attitude of the Commissioner and the Director of the Youth Affairs and Sports on the issue is similar.

While asserting that the players have never demanded the Government to provide them with jobs but it was the Government which had made an announcement in this regard, the aggrieved State players pointed out that out of 113 gold medallists, both male and female players, in the State, some of them who won 2/3 gold medals have been given appointment in Government service while neglecting those who have won only one gold medal.

There should be no discrimination among the players, transparency should be maintained in the process of recruitment of players and a State Policy on sports should be set up in the interest of the players, they urged.

In case the Government fails to keep its promise and does not produced a white paper within the current month of September, then all the gold medalist players in the State would stay away from participating in the next National Games scheduled to be held at Jharkhand in November, disgruntled State players made it clear.