Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that Punjab Government would launch new job policy for sportspersons bringing laurels to the state by registering victories at international sports events in the coming cabinet meeting.Badal, who is also holding sports portfolio, was addressing the function organized by Punjab Government to award the medallists of Punjab who have won medals in Inchion Asian Games and Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014. He informed that new sports policy will be cleared by the end of this month and aimed at providing jobs to players on the basis of their national and international performance besides fixing incentives for the coaches.Deputy Chief Minister said that new policy would ensure that sportspersons recruited in government services would spend initial 10 years in sports department on deputation to contribute in developing the sports in the state. "This policy will also ensure promotions to the players on the basis of their international performance," he assured.
Giving details about Punjab Institute of Sports Mr. Badal informed that institute will have special directorates for 11 different sports disciplines at SAS Nagar and all recruitments will be done by March 31 next year. He said that first of this kind institute would work on the policy of ‘catch them young’ to provide world class coaching, psychologists, diet, training and equipments to the budding sports talent of the state.Highlighting the initiatives taken by Punjab government to promote sports, Mr. Badal said that Punjab is the first state in the country to create sports fund. He said that Punjab was spending Rs. 80 to 90 crores per year to develop sports infrastructure and contemplating to increase this budget to more than Rs 100 crores from next year. He informed that SAD-BJP government has established 6 Astroturf Hockey stadia in last 4 years.
Stressing to enhance outlay for sports in the union budget, Mr. Badal said "every fifth person in the world is Indian and still we are far behind as some smallest countries of the world are getting medals in international competitions". Adding he said that he would personally request Prime Minister Mr. Narinder Modi for substantial increase in the sports budget so that Indian players could compete at international level.Addressing the gathering, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa MP listed the contributions of Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal during his tenure as chief ministership and informed that it was Mr. Parkash Singh Badal who has started Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Award on the pattern of Arjuna Awards to honour the players from the state. He said that like an able son of able father, Sukhbir Badal was also doing his best to promote sports in the state. On the occasion Mr. Chuni Lal Bhagat Cabinet Minister, Mr. Kamal Sharma President Punjab BJP and Pawan Kumar Tinu Chief Parliamentary Secretary also addressed the audience and highlighted the contribution of Punjab government to regain the glory in sports.
The Incheon Asian games gold medallists Mandeep Kaur Cheema in athletics (4X400 meter relay) has been awarded with Rs. 26 lac, Gurpreet Singh in Kabaddi Rs. 26 lac, in 20 KM walk silver medal winner Khusbeer Kaur (Rs. 16 lac), Heena Sidhu 25 meter Pistol (Rs. 11 lac), Gurpreet Singh in Rifle Shooting (Rs. 16 lac), Amandeep Kaur in hockey (Rs. 11 lac), Trisha Dev in Archery (Rs. 11 lac) and OP Jaisha in Atheltics with Rs. 11 lac.On the occasion Deputy CM have honoured Dharamveer Singh, Manpreet Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Gurbaj Singh in Hockey by handing over cash awards of Rs. 37 lac each for their achievements in Incheon Asian and Glasgow Commonwealth games. Besides, Glasgow Commonwealth games gold medallist and Incheon Asian games bronze medal winner Abhinav Bhindra in Air Rifle shooting events was handed over Rs. 38 lac cash award. In Rowing Swaran Singh, Ranjit Singh, Devinder Singh and Maninder Singh were awarded with Rs. 11 lac each for winning bronze medal at Incheon Asiad.
Besides this, silver medallists Navjot Channa in Judo got Rs. 11 lac, Malaika Goel Air pistol shooting Rs. 11 lac, Vikas Thakur in weightlifting Rs. 11 lac whereas Arpinder Singh in Triple Jump Rs. 6 lac, Rajwinder Kaur Judo Rs. 6 lac, Manavjit Sandhu shooting Rs. 6 lac and Navjot Kaur wrestling got cash prize of Rs. 6 lakh for winning bronze medal in commonwealth games. Rajinder Singh Rahelu in Power Lifting (Para sport) got Rs. 11 lac for winning gold at Glasgow Commonwealth games and Raj Kumar Badminton (Para Asian Games) Silver medallist were also awarded with Rs. 32 lac cash prize.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included Member Rajya Sabha Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Cabinet Minister Bhagat Chunni Lal, Pawan Kumar Tinu, N.K. Sharma and Balbir Singh Ghunas (all CPS), State BJP President Kamal Sharma, Balbir Singh Olympian (Senior), Secretary Sports Ashok Gupta, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy CM Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Special Secretary Sports Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Pargat Singh, Harpreet Singh, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Gurtej Singh Ghuriana and Deep Malhotra (all MLAs), Joint Director Sports Mr. Sohan Lal Lotty, Political Advisor to CM Tikshan Sud and Punjab Olympic Association Secretary General Raja Sidhu.