Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi, April 26
Haryana Sports Minster Anil Vij has said that the state’s sports policy “clearly states that the government will give awards to the players who are from Haryana and also play for Haryana”.
However, the sports policy of the state, unveiled in January 2015, lacks clarity. This lack of clarity is caused by bad drafting of the policy, which leaves room for different interpretations.
Defining the eligibility of the sportspersons for the cash awards, the sports policy states: “The sports persons must have represented the state of Haryana in the national team, in case of national level competitions.”
It further adds: “The cash award will only be given to those sportspersons who has represented the state of Haryana in any sports.”
Forgetting for the moment the faulty grammar, these two points can cause an ambiguity when evaluating a sportsperson’s eligibility for the cash awards; “has represented” clearly means that the eligible sportspersons should have represented Haryana at any time in the past.
Clearly, all Haryana-origin sportspersons who are currently employed by the Railways or Army must have represented the state at one time or the other in the past.
Double benefits
Vij states that the athletes who represent Haryana would get Rs 1.5 crore for a gold at the Commonwealth Games, but those who represent, say, Railways, would end up getting Rs 2 crore — Rs 1.5 crore from Haryana, Rs 50 lakh from Railways. This may cause heartburn to the state’s athletes, he says, and he does have a point.
But it is also true that the state government has, in the past, given awards in an arbitrary manner — for instance, in 2012 the government announced an award of Rs 1 crore for Saina Nehwal after she won a silver at the London Olympics. Saina has roots in Haryana and was born in Hisar, but she has not represented the state.
Also, in the past the government did not reduce the prize money of sportspersons who were also given awards by their central government employers. This gives confusing signals to the sportspersons.
Respect, not money
“It is about our respect and not money. It has never happened, so why now?” Bajrang Punia, who won gold at Gold Coast CWG, told The Tribune. “They did not deduct money during the Olympics or the Asian Games, so why now? The present government is the same government as when we got medals in the last Asian Games. So this means that if we win less medals we will get all the respect and if we win more like in this Commonwealth Games we will not get the respect?
Boxer Manoj Kumar, who won a bronze at CWG, mirrored this view. “I won a medal in the 2013 Asian Championships, 2014 Arjuna Award and 2016 SAF Games and I am still to get money for those wins,” he said. “I have met the minister and other officials a number of times but their policy says that I have played for Railways and not Haryana. An athlete plays for the country but my birthplace remains Haryana. How can they deny us?”
Vikas disagrees
However, boxer Vikas Krishan, who won gold at Gold Coast, said he accepts the government’s policy.
“I think the state government took the right decision. Previously, Army didn’t pay their players cash prizes, now they are giving,” he said. “My police department has given me Rs 5 lakh… So if the government deducts that money and gives the rest to me, where is the problem? Similarly, if Railways or any other institution gives out cash prizes, that money should be deducted. Otherwise it will be unfair on those athletes who are not employed with these institutions.”
