Himachal This Week Team
487 Sportspersons Recruited
Himachal is honouring its sportspersons who are performing outstandingly in national and international competitions. Until now, it has recruited 487 sportspersons in different departments of the state government. They were provided employment under three percent reservation quota fixed for sportspersons in recruitment to government jobs. The state sports department has also provided cash incentives of about Rs. 3.94 crore to 1554 sportspersons. The cash incentive was enhanced for outstanding sportsperson in 2016
Cash Incentives
* Rs. 20 lakh for winning gold medal in Asian Games
* Rs. 1.5 lakh for winning gold medal in senior national games
* Rs. 75,000 for winning silver medal in senior national games
* Rs. 50,000 for winning bronze medal in senior national games
* 34,723 sportspersons benefitted under different schemes
Himachal’s Athletics Sensation
Achievements
* Under-16 junior 2000 metres record of 6:27:13 minute (2016)
* Under-18 youth 3000 metres record of 9:56:00 minutes (2017)
* Under-18 junior 3000 metres record of 9:50:00 minutes (2017)
* Gold medal in junior national athletics championship (2015)
* Bronze medal in Youth Asian Athletics Championship (2017)
* Participation in Youth Commonwealth games (2017)
India’s Kabaddi Star
Priyanka Negi has become the mainstay of Indian women Kabaddi team due to her all round abilities, as a defender and also as a raider. Hailing from Sirmour district, the state government appointed kabaddi star as Sub-Inspector in Himachal Police in 2016 and has now been promoted as Inspector. Having won 15 medals at national level, Priyanka Negi, also a recipient of Parhsuram Award, has been performing outstandingly for India in international competitions. She started her career in Kabaddi at the age of 14 when she was admitted to state sports hostel in Bilaspur.
International Achievements
* Gold medal in South Asian games (2011)
* Gold medal in national championship (2012)
* Gold medal in Asian Kabaddi tournament (2013)
* Gold medal in South Asian games (2016)
Emerging Kabaddi Star
Una’s Vishal Bhardwaj has also found a place in Indian kabaddi team. He is considered as another emerging Himachali kabaddi star who also excelled in pro kabaddi league this year. He has represented Indian Junior kabaddi team, participated in three junior and two senior national championships before making it to the senior India kabaddi team.
Minister Assures Transparency
Tek Chand Verma
Himachal Youth Services and Sports Minister Govind Singh Thakur has assured that all steps would be taken for promoting sports in the state. Stress would be laid on strengthening infrastructural facilities for sports besides providing latest equipments, he told Himachal This Week. The minister said the tournaments would be organised under sports policy besides extending support to sports association to encourage young sports talent in Himachal. Complete transparency would be adopted in promoting sports and outstanding sportspersons would be rewarded according to their achievements, added Govind Singh Thakur, promising that there would be no discrimination in rewards.
* Seema has brought laurels to Himachal by winning international medal in athletics. The matter would be taken up with the government for suitably rewarding Seema for her outstanding achievements -Govind Singh Thakur, Youth Services and Sports Minister
DSP Post To Two Outstanding Sportspersons
Aanchal Wins India’s First International Skiing Medal
Concrete Policy Needed
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s statements, actions and reactions are reflective of Himachal government’s aims with regard to state’s concerns. Some of the decisions came to the fore through Cabinet meetings whereas Chief Minister took others keeping in view people’s aspirations. There can be some decisions that are taken despite budgetary deficit. For example, Makar Sakranti festival at Tattapani was granted district level status. Chief Minister also announced cash incentive when Manali’s Anchal Thakur won international skiing medal for the country. Chief Minister’s swift decisions on certain spontaneous issues will strengthen him but policies should also be revealed to provide these decisions a wide base. Anchal Thakur could achieve because of her family’s hard work and not that of the state. There should be a permanent arrangement in place under sports policy to honour outstanding sportspersons. There should be transparency in policies if the state wants to honour its sportspersons winning international medals. Previous government appointed two outstanding sportspersons as Deputy Superintendent of Police whereas others are still looking for a job or were not given equivalent post. Why Priyanka Negi remained only an inspector in police department whereas she has contributed gloriously in achievements of Indian Women Kabaddi team? Chamba’s girl Seema not only won international medal for the country but broke many national records in this season. Why Himachal could not provide any incentive to the girl hailing from a poor family? Why Himachal has not been able to identify athletics sensation Seema? Talent in every sphere should be brought under an appropriate ambit; whether it is sports, art, music, literature or any other field. Information and Public Relations department should come up with a publication on achievements and personalities on the pattern of Haryana.