Player income curb draws flak
Chandigarh, June 8: The Haryana government on Friday courted controversy when it asked sportspersons employed by it to deposit one- third of their earnings from commercial and professional commitments to the state sports council but put the notification on hold after drawing sharp criticism from elite athletes.
“I have asked for the relevant file of sports department to be shown to me & the notification dated April 30th to be put on hold till further orders,” chief minister Khattar tweeted.
“We are proud of the immense contribution by our sportsperson & I assure them of a just consideration of all issues affecting them,” he added.
His intervention came after athletes reacted sharply to the notification issued by principal secretary ( sports and youth department) Ashok Khemka.
“One- third of the income earned by the sportsperson from professional sports or commercial endorsements will be M. L. deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council. The money shall be used for the development of sports in the state,” the notification said.
Khemka had hit the headlines during his stint as head of land registration department by alleging irregularities in land deals involving Robert Vadra a few years ago.
Sports and youth affairs minister Anil Vij had also defended the move, insisting it was not aimed at income generated from amateur sports.
“... Here we are talking about income from professional sports,” he said.
“It is government’s old rule/ service rule, Rule 56, as per which if any government employee generates commercial income or professional income, then he shall have to deposit one- third of such earnings,” he added.
The athletes employed with the state government include star boxers Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar, both of whom are DSPs in state police, hockey captain Sardar Singh and wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat.
Sardar, Geeta and Babita are also employed with the Haryana Police.
Of them, Babita, who had a silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, was the only one to react to the move, calling it disheartening.
“This notification will hamper an athletes preparation. How can the government give such an order? We pay taxes over whatever we earn and now this notification to pay one- third,” Phogat said.