Govt announces enhancement of incentives for medal winners
Work underway to upgrade Khuman Lampak Sports Complex to world class facility: Govindas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 20 2022: Chief Minister N Biren-has announced enhancement of incentives given to medal winners of Commonwealth Games (CWG) and National Games, during the felicitation ceremony of medal winners and participants of the 36th National Games-2022, Gujarat and 2nd North East Olympic Games-2022, Shillong organised by Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, here on Tuesday.

The CM said that the incentives given to gold medallists of CWG will be increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, silver medallists from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and that of participants to Rs 4 lakh from Rs 2 lakh.

However, the CM made no mention about enhancement for bronze medal winners.

For National Games, the incentives for individual event winners will be increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for gold, from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for silver and from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for bronze medallists.

For team event, the incentives for gold, silver and bronze medal winning team will be enhanced to Rs 15 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5 lakh respectively, the CM added.

Acknowledging the efforts of coaches in the achievements of players, Biren also announced enhancement of incentives for coaches from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh for gold, from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for silver and from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh for bronze medal.

He further assured that the government will take up necessary actions in consultation with the youth affairs and sports minister for implementation of the same at the earliest.

The CM said that the objective of the state government is to create avenues for the people and support them.

Achievement-oriented thinking is very important for carrying out a task.

The Government is putting in every effort to develop infrastructures in various sectors including games and sports, he maintained.

Mentioning about the installation of flood light system at the hockey and football stadiums of Khuman Lampak, Biren revealed that the government has initiated due process for increasing the seat capacity of Khuman Lampak Main Stadium to around 70,000.He also mentioned about a plan to construct a stadium with crowd capacity of 1 lakh and added that a land measuring 50 acres has been identified for the stadium in Imphal West district.

The stadium will be taken up through the railways ministry and the project is in process.

Moreover, installation of Astro-turf grounds in seven hill districts has been completed.

Apart from this, the government is planning to develop around eight additional football grounds in different parts of the state.

These infrastructures are being developed keeping in view of the state hosting Santosh Trophy for which AIFF president has communicated the approval, he added.

The CM further informed that the Manipur Olympian Park, which is being developed at Sangaithel, would be inaugurated soon and union home minister Amit Shah has been invited to inaugurate it.

The Olympian Park has been his dream project since he was the sports minister in the past.

The park has now become a reality with life size statues of 19 Olympians showcasing the rich history and power of sporting talents of the state.

He also explained the benefits being provided to sportspersons under the Chief Minister's Akhannaba Sanaroisingi Tengbang (CM AST) scheme to retired national players in the form of monthly pension of Rs 4000 to Rs 6000.The CM urged the young athletes of the state not just to aim for landing government job after winning medals in the national events, but rather aim for participation in Olympic Games and winning medals.

The government would also discuss matters relating to providing jobs to gold medal winning players at the national level.

His government is discussing to introduce a policy for provision of government jobs to national players only after winning three gold medals as some players often give up their efforts for further achievement after getting a government job, which will secure their livelihood.

However, in order to support the players, the government will provide diet and other requirements for players winning gold medal at the national level free of cost, he informed.

Biren, however, expressed concern over the issue of dualism in the state, which has also affected the sports association, and appealed to resolve any differences through peaceful dialogues and merge parallel organisations.

Further stating that there were no such parallel organisations in sports when he was the sports minister, the chief minister observed that discord within sports bodies is fallout of ego and selfish agenda among some vested interested groups and individuals.

While cautioning lack of harmony within a sport body can never bring improvement in the held, he called upon individuals leading such bodies to have the quality and humility of leadership, and prioritise their focus on serving the society instead of racing for the authoritative chair.

All deserving officials will eventually get their opportunity, he said and further urged the MOA president and YAS minister not to entertain any request or demand from such parallel bodies.

Youth affairs and sports minister Govindas Konthoujam, while addressing the gathering, said that games and sports is the held which has made Manipur known to the world.

People of the state are privileged to have N Biren as the chief minister, who has always taken up initiatives to develop the sports sector in the state.

He continued that the state government has initiated works to upgrade Khuman Lampak Sports Complex into a world class sports facility.

The minister further said that the government has been making efforts to develop sports infrastructure so that players of the state can avail the same facilities as players of other big states do.

He stressed the need for cooperation among different sports associations for increasing the number of medals won at national and international events.

He also spoke on the importance of selecting the right and prospective players for participating at national and international level games and extended best wishes to players of the state in their future endeavours.

Manipur Olympic Association president and Heirok MLA Thokchom Radheshyam said that players need to be passionate and humble while being fierce in the held to win medals.

He also spoke on the importance of collaboration among different sports associations in order to achieve progress in the sector and lauded the achievement of the young and talented athletes of the state, who are trained with lesser infrastructure and facilities.

Radheshyam also called upon the people of the state to support local players as they support famous footballers during the recent FIFA Football World Cup, so as to motivate them to bring more laurels for the state.

Later, the CM felicitated medal winners and participants of the 36th National Games-2022, Gujarat and 2nd North East Olympic Games-2022, Shillong.

Cash rewards of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5000 were given to gold, silver and bronze medal winners of 36th National Games-2022, Gujarat.

Further, cash reward of Rs 10,000 was given to the associations of 18 disciplines that participated in the 2nd North East Olympic Games-2022, Shillong.

The felicitation ceremony was also attended by Keishamthong MLA and Manipur Basketball Association president Nishikant Sapam, Wangkhei MLA and All Manipur Mukna Association president Th Arunkumar, Moirang MLA Thongam Shanti, Kakching MLA Mayanglambam Rameshwar, principal secretary (YAS) SS Chhabra, Olympians, coaches, renowned sportspersons and office bearers of Manipur Olympic Association among others.

Comment