SHILLONG, Feb 6: The Meghalaya government on Thursday assured jobs and cash awards to all medallists in the ongoing National Games in Uttarakhand in a bid to promote sports in the hill state, officials said.
Vikash Rana won the state’s first gold medal at the ongoing edition of the Games in the Men’s Kayak Cross Extreme Slalom event, while Elizabeth Vincent, a bronze medalist at the Asian canoe championship earlier this year, bagged silver in the women’s category.
Two riflewomen from the Assam Rifles Rowing node – Kiran Devi and B Anandhi – won bronze in the Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls, while Indra Sharma, a 15-year-old athlete from Ri-Bhoi, won the silver medal in the Men’s Slalom C1 event, and Pynshngain Kurbah took home the bronze in another canoeing event, taking the state’s medal tally to five.
With this, Meghalaya has equaled the number of medals won by athletes during the 2005 National Games.
“Cash awards, scholarships, and additional rewards shall be given in accordance with the Sports Policy guidelines. As announced by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, the state will also offer government jobs to successful athletes from the Games,” the Sports Department said in a statement.
“With the success of our athletes, and the streamlining of department strategies, the vision of establishing Meghalaya as a regional sporting powerhouse is being realised,” it added.
According to the Sports Policy, a class-3 level officer’s post will be given to those who have won medals at National Games. Also, there will be a reservation of 15 per cent for medalists in law enforcing organisations and a 10 per cent reservation in various departments.
Athletes bagging gold medals will also be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, silver with Rs 1.5 lakh and bronze with Rs 1 lakh. (PTI)
