Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that State Government would provide 100 jobs annually to those sportspersons, who would bring laurels for the state and nation during international sports events. Besides scientific training, expert and professional coaching including software and hardware for the players would also be provided so that Punjab could regain its glory once achieved in Sports.Dedicating first-of-its-own kind in the country Punjab Olympic Bhawan to sports fraternity of the state here, Badal accompanied by Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, President Punjab Olympic Association,Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue Minister and Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister said these yearly jobs would be apart from 3 percent reserved quota for sportspersons in the state. Mr. Badal said the players achieving excellence at International level by bringing laurels for nation the players would be awarded with Category ‘A’ posts. He said state has finalized its unique sports plan to impart world class training and sports techniques to the players under which Mohali would get Rs. 100 crore Punjab Institute of Sports on the pattern of National Institute of Sports. He added this Sports Excellence Center would have two sub-centers at Jalandhar and Bathinda, where best possible modern techniques would be provided in the coming two years. He said all types of sports infrastructure, scientific instruments software and hardware sports requirements would also be available for sportspersons of all games.
Badal, who is also sports minister of Punjab, informed that state had already been running successfully a Sports School at Ghudda in Muktsar where all training facilities in major games have been provided to the budding players. Reiterating his resolve to take Sports at new high, Mr. Badal also announced to setup state-of-the-art Sports School in every district of Punjab with an aim to develop sports culture amongst students from their childhood.
Adding further he said under its “Sports Mission” Punjab would have sports school in every district within three years and there would be an unprecedented transformation in the field of sports. Mr. Badal also informed the gathering that Punjab would emphasise on traditional and inpidual games and events since it has immense potential and sports talent in the games of wrestling, archery, boxing, shooting, cycling, swimming and athletics.The Deputy CM further added that to provide incentives to the players Punjab has enhanced its Sports Budget to Rs. 142 crore in 2013-14. He pointed out that Rs. 200 crores have been spent on creation of world class sports infrastructure with construction/renovation/up-gradation of 13 international level sports stadiums besides 6 Hockey Stadiums with provisioning of modern Astroturfs. Mr. Badal also ridiculed the Sports Budget of Union Government, which was a too meager to provide incentives to Sportspersons in country whereas Punjab has taken lead by setting aside a record budget for games to improve the tallies of medals in Asian, Commonwealth and Olympics.
Earlier Mr. Dhindsa thanked Punjab Government especially Punjab CM Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM for allotting a chunk of land for Punjab Olympic Bhawan. He also demanded to provide Sports Infrastructure for this bhawan besides facilitating expert and professional coaches for sports wings. Mr. Kanwarjit Singh Sidhu (Raja Sidhu) also informed the Deputy CM that despite launching of Olympic Movement in the state since 1924, the Punjab has got such a complex after nine decades. He informed that photographs and busts of Olympians would be center of attraction in the ‘Hall of Fame’ of Olympic Bhawan. Mr. Balbir Singh (Senior), who won Gold medals in Olympics 1948-52 and 1956 also spoke on the occasion.Meanwhile, Deputy CM assuring all possible cooperation and financial assistance from Punjab Government said the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) to come with a detailed estimate and proposal and it would be done. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion Mr. Brahm Mahindra, vice president POA, Olympians Mr. Abhinav Bindra, Mr. Pargat Singh, MLA Mr. Daljeet Singh Cheema, Mr. S.S. Channi, Principal Secretary along with Arjuna Awardees and Dronacharayas Awardees.