SACHIN DALVI
PANAJI
When students perform and excel at the national level, one would have assumed that their achievements would be hailed by the State government.
On the contrary, the State government seems to have played spoilsport after six Goan sports persons who bagged 17 medals at the ‘Khelo India’ national competition in Pune in January have been left high and dry as they are yet to get cash awards proposed by the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG).
The delay in receiving cash awards has surprised many, especially since the State government has significantly hiked its budget for sports in the last three years.
According to reports, the union sports ministry had organised the “Khelo India” competition in Pune from January 9 to 20 to promote young talent in sports.
The national sporting event witnessed the participation of over 600 young sports persons representing 29 states and 7 union territories in various disciplines.
A number of young Goan sports persons bagged laurels for the State, winning 8 Silver and 9 Bronze medals. The medalists, Suman Patil, Shrungi Bandekar, Sohan Ganguli, Xavier D’Souza, Yesh Padloskar and Suman Yadav, were even felicitated on their return to Goa.
In a bid to recognise their excellence and to motivate the medalists, the SAG had decided to offer them cash awards.
“The proposal (for cash awards) was sent to the SAG executive director, who approved the proposal and had marked it to the section concerned for action,” a source told The Goan.
Two months have passed and the young medalists are yet to receive the cash awards.
Expressing disappointment over the indifferent attitude of the State government, the father of one medalist said: “A number of players from Goa have reached the national and international level by their own efforts.”
“Many of these players are in need of financial support as parents cannot afford the high costs of training and competing at such events. Parents only hope that their children can shine one day on the sports field. The government should have been proactive in awarding such meritorious sports persons who have bagged honours for Goa,” said the parent, while speaking on condition of anonymity.
Said another parent: “Those sports persons who bring laurels to Goa at the national level should be encouraged by the State government with
financial assistance and special training. Sometimes, the government offers assistance, but this assistance is provided after a prolonged delay.”
“The process of getting financial help is time consuming and this deters parents from encouraging their children to pursue sports. Sports Minister (Babu) Ajgaokar should look into this aspect and ensure that young sports persons excelling at the national level are suitably rewarded in time.”
According to sources, the State government has been focusing on sports and has even hiked its budget for sports significantly since 2016-17.
In 2016-17, the budgetary provision for sports was Rs 52 crore, which was hiked to Rs 68 crore in 2017-18. The allocation shot up to Rs 161 crore in the 2018-19 budget.
During this financial year, a staggering Rs 314 crore has been provided in the budget of 2019-20, which has been attributed to the national games to be staged in the State.
