Govt fail to provide cash incentives to 34th Natl Games medal winners
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Rishikesh Wangkhem
Imphal, June 11 2012:
Even though players are playing a major role in bringing fame and laurel to the state, the government has failed to provide the cash incentives it promised for those players who won medals in the recent 34th National Games held in Jharkhand.
After Manipur clinched the Overall Team Champion's title in the 5th National Games hosted by the state and won Raja Valendra Singh Trophy, Manipur government has been observing the February 25, the day which Manipur was declared winner of the 5th National Games, as Players' Day by awarding cash incentives to successful players who bring fames and laurels to the state.
Likewise, Chief Minister O Ibobi had announced to reward cash incentives to those players who won medals in the recent 34th National Games held in Jharkhand in February 2011 .
Unfortunately, the government has failed to provide the promised incentives to the state players till now.
It may be mentioned that Manipur won 48 gold, 37 silver and 33 bronze medals in the 34th National Games and won the second spot after Services.
As per the announcement made by the state government, the players who won medals in the event will get Rs 3.8 crore as one time cash incentives.
Even after more than a year, the government is not considering the matter which is an example of ignoring the player fraternity by the government.
The government had increased the cash incentives in a state function held last year.
According to the announcement, gold medalists in individual event will recieve Rs 3 lakh while silver and bronze medalists will get Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively.
Moreover, gold medalists who set new records will get Rs 5 lakh as cash incentives.
For team events, each player of the gold, silver and bronze medal winning teams will get Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively.
Any team who sets new Games Record will also get Rs 1.7 lakh
cash incentives.
Players who could not win any medals will also get Rs 4,000.Coaches of gold medal winner will get Rs 50,000 while coach for silver and bronze medal winners will get RS 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.
Moreover coaches whose players could not get any medals will also get Rs 6,000 .
All official documents regarding the providing of cash incentives for the players have been forwarded to the YAS Commissioner by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports on March 21 last year.
But the department is unable to dispense the cash incentives to the players since the Commissioner is not giving his approval for the same.