Won’t prune PSPCL sports cell: Minister

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We have a huge sports infrastructure in Patiala, Bathinda and other districts. The govt is committed to keeping the youth away from drugs by providing them jobs. GURPREET SINGH KANGAR, Punjab power minister

PATIALA : Agreeing to the demands of sportspersons employed in the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL), Punjab power minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar on Thursday said the corporation’s sports cell will not be pruned and that the state government is in favour of encouraging sports culture among the youth.

The minister also asked the PSPCL board of directors to review the decision of declaring the sport cell as a dying cadre. PSPCL director RP Pandov was also present in the meeting.

PSPCL in a bid to prune the staff had proposed that the sports cell be converted into a dying cadre which implies abolishing of a post after an officer retires and no promotions of those under them besides holding no new recruitment.

The Punjab Police and PSPCL are the largest employers in the state, giving job opportunities to the talented sportspersons.

Kangar said since the inception of sports cell of PSPCL, over 400 players have been a part of it and PSPCL is proud of holding All India Sports Control Board Champions Trophy for over a decade. “We have an Arjuna Awardee as our senior sports officer and we also have a huge sports infrastructure in Patiala, Bathinda and other districts. The Punjab government is committed to keep the youth away from drugs by providing suitable job opportunities to all,” the minister said.