Incentive for sportspersons - Time to revamp policy
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 30, 2012 -

Notwithstanding the goof-up over dateline in the congratulatory note (writing March 24 instead of March 25) and the last minute flurry created over its publication in media, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh's prompt commendation over the gold raining performances of MC Mary Kom and Sarita Devi at the just concluded 6th Asian Boxing Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on March 25 and the subsequent announcement of cash incentive of Rs 10 lakh each to the two Olympic hopeful women pugilists after a state Cabinet meeting, was appreciable.

However, the congratulatory note and the announcement of cash incentive seem to have come rather earlier than expected and it appeared to have gone down not well with some players whose performances had never been accorded such kind of attention by the state government. The rumbling sound of disappointment is simply palpable.

Accordingly to reports doing the round, among other numerous outstanding players of International calibre in the state, archer Laishram Bombayla and pugilist Laishram Devendro, who have already been selected to represent India in the upcoming London Olympics, 2012, have been overlooked despite their equally deserving, if not better, sporting prowess.

For Bombayla, it is going to be her second consecutive times to participate in a sporting event like Olympics, which is a cherished dream for every player. Bombayla has qualified for the London Olympics by virtue of her winning the silver medal in the team event of the 46th World Archery Championships at Italy last year.

We are not saying that Mary Kom and Sarita Devi, who won gold medals at the recent 6th Asian Boxing Championship in their respective weight category of 51 kg and 60 kg, do not deserve accolade or incentive award.

In fact, we strongly feel that they deserve even more than that in due consideration of their unbeaten track records in the ring.

At the time of announcing the incentive awards, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh too had made it clear Mary Kom and Sarita have been world champions in their respective weight categories consecutively for a number of times and the cash reward is to be given to encourage them to remain unbeaten by anyone for a long period of time.

Nonetheless, to give no room for disappointment among the deserving players, the state government should do a deep soul searching and have a relook at its Sports Policy which was adopted way back in 1992 with the stated objective of 'providing adequate infrastructure and proper incentives to nurture talents so that Manipur can produce sportspersons of excellence'.

Time and again, it has been seen that implementation of the policy remains wanting in almost every aspect, thus becoming a cause of discontentment among the players.

This is one precise reason, why there is en mass efflux of meritorious players from Manipur to other states, where the medal winners are assured not only hefty cash bounties but also promises of a better life during and even after their sporting careers.

Revamping the State Sports Policy in tune with the changing time should not be such a difficult task than stirring up a hornet's nest by a Chief Minister who has been in the hot seat for three consecutive terms. We are definitely sure of that.