Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini while attending the closing ceremony of the Haryana Kushti Dangal in Kurukshetra on Thursday said that State's athletes have brought laurels on the global sports stage.
He said that while taking yet another step towards ensuring welfare of the players of the state, the government has resolved to provide a medical insurance cover of Rs. 20 lakh to every athlete. Besides this, annual incentives of Rs. 50 lakh, Rs. 30 lakh, and Rs. 20 lakh will also be awarded to the top three Akharas at the state level, and Rs. 15 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh, and Rs. 5 lakh will be awarded to the top three Akharas at the district level.
Earlier, the Chief Minister felicitated the winners of the Dangal and extended best wishes. He said that over 500 wrestlers participated at district and regional levels in the two-day event, with 16 of the 32 finalists being female wrestlers, marking a proud moment for the state.Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Haryana is a land of sports. Despite its small size in terms of population and area, Haryana's achievements in sports are remarkable.
Major Changes in the Sports Sector Under Prime Minister’s Leadership
The Chief Minister said that since 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the sports sector has undergone significant transformations at the national level. Enhanced sports infrastructure, transparent selection processes and effective financial assistance and training schemes have been implemented at the national level, he said.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini further said that inspired by this, the double-engine government in Haryana has introduced a new sports policy and devised a roadmap to identify talent from the grassroots level and groom them for the Olympics. This has resulted in the development of modern sports infrastructure and a thriving sports culture in the state, providing substantial motivation to athletes, he said.Besides the Olympics, Haryana's youth have excelled in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and other international competitions, said the Chief Minister.
Ensuring Employment for Athletes
The Chief Minister shared that the government has ensured employment for outstanding athletes through the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons Service Rules 2021. Under this, 550 new posts have been created in the sports department, and 224 athletes have been provided government jobs. Provision of reservation for direct recruitment of athletes in Group-A to Group-D posts have also been made, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is the first state in India to offer the highest cash rewards to medal-winning athletes, disbursing Rs. 593 crore in cash rewards so far. Furthermore, 298 athletes who have demonstrated exceptional performances are receiving honorariums.
He said that scholarships are also being provided to students participating in and winning medals at state, national, and international sports competitions. Since 2014, more than 29,000 students have received scholarships worth Rs. 53.45 crore.
Sports Infrastructure in the State being further Strengthened
The Chief Minister said that dedicated efforts are being made for the creation of robust sports infrastructure in Haryana to ensure athletes have access to modern facilities. The government has opened sports nurseries, offering financial aid and advanced training to athletes. Presently, 1,489 sports nurseries are operational in the state.
Haryana, which represents 2 percent of the population, is today has become powerhouse of sports, Gaurav Gautam
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Sports, Sh. Gaurav Gautam said that because of their sports talent, the state players are making Haryana proud in the country and the world. It is a matter of pride that our daughters are shining bright in the sports, he said.
The Minister said that Haryana, which represents 2 percent of the country's population, has today become a powerhouse of sports. He said that due to Haryana's sports policy under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, players have won many national and international medals.
He said that in the 10 years before 2014, an amount of Rs 48 crore has been allocated for the sports sector in the state, whereas the present state government has spent Rs 550 crore for players and providing sports facilities.