Imphal, November 27: Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam has disclosed that world boxing champions MC Mary Kom and L Sarita would be offered the posts of Assistant Directors (Promotion) in the Youth Affairs and Sports Department.

Endorsing this, the SPF Cabinet which met late this evening today, decided to appoint the two world champions to the said posts and also to provide living quarters.

Mary Kom has already been provided with a living quarters earlier.

Earlier talking to The Sangai Express today, the Minister said two new posts of Assistant Director would be created in the Youth Affairs and Sports Department for Mary Kom and L Sarita in appreciation of their gold medal winning feats in the recently concluded 4th World Women Boxing Championship at Delhi.

The two women boxers are presently holding the posts of Sub-Inspectors in the State Police Dept.

The Minister further disclosed that the State Cabinet would be discussing the offer of the post of Assistant Directors to the two women boxers.

The posts of Assistant Director (Promotion) have to be created as the posts to be offered to them should be higher than the existing post of Assistant Director (Coaching) being held by their coaches, the Minister explained.

The Minister, however, did not spell out anything on giving incentive award to the two women boxers who have become role models for many budding sportspersons not just in Manipur but also throughout the sporting world.

For the record, Mary Kom has won the world championship title three years in a row in the 46 Kg weight category while this is the first gold medal at the world stage for L Sarita.

At the last world meet, Sarita won the bronze in the 54 Kg category.

The gold this time came in the 52 Kg category.

Out of the four gold medals won by India three were won by boxers from the North East States.

Apart from deciding to appoint the two boxing champions to the Youth Affairs and Sports Department as Assistant Directors, the Cabinet also decided fill up the posts of 17 Manipur Civil Service, 22 Manipur Police Service, 12 Manipur Finance Service, and 12 Sub-Deputy Collectors.

A significant decision that the Cabinet arrived at was to cancel the NSA slapped on the detained MSF volunteers.

The other points discussed included upgrading Jiribam to a full fledged Revenue district and the reservation of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe.

Even as the Cabinet was discussing the possibility of upgrading Jiribam to a Revenue district, the offices of the ZEO, ADC and Cong (I) at Jiribam were torched today at about 9.30 pm to demand the declaration of the sub-division as a revenue district.

Comment