State government should nurture sports talent: AAP
JALANDHAR: In a response to the new sport policy, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday said the state government should instead find a way to build sports culture in the state rather than announcing policies from which players can’t draw benefits.
The Punjab government increased cash awards for various games and championships, pension for veteran players and awards for coaches, under its new sports policy approved by cabinet on Wednesday.
“It’s time the government should invest in inculcating talent in children so that they can come forward to represent the state,” said AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema during a press conference here.
He was accompanied by former basketball player and Arjuna awardee Sajjan Singh Cheema, who is also an AAP leader.
“From a total of 59 winners in Asian Games across the country, 24 winners are from Haryana. It is because Haryana encourages players with cash rewards,” Harpal Singh Cheema said.
Sajjan Singh Cheema said the state government should build a sports culture in the state by appointing coaches in schools, who will find talent at village level.
“Every district should have sports hostels to train students coming from village level,” he said.
Harpal Cheema said salary amount of ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 is given to sports players appointed in government jobs. This amount is not sufficient for any player to grow in his field.
He said players can’t benefit from the pension scheme as the criteria to apply is that the players should be at least 40 years old and have an income of less than ₹6 lakh per annum. “Even small players, who get a place in police or any other job will have more income than what the government has kept as the lower limit to apply for pension,” he said.