‘Jharkhand not promoting its sportspersons’

RANCHI - The Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) Wednesday alleged the state government was not promoting its sportspersons as per the government policy.

JOA officials held a meeting Wednesday in Ranchi which was attended, among others, by Union Minister for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahay. The minister is the chairman, organising committee of 34th National Games.

The state government in the past had formulated a policy to give two percent reservation in state government services to players who have won any medal in national and international games.

“More than 300 players who have won medals at national and international level games have been deprived of the government reservation facilities. A delegation of the JOA will soon meet Chief Minister Shibu Soren to request him to promote the players,” Madhukant Pathak, spokesperson of the JOA, told IANS.

He said: “Jharkhand is set to hold the 34th National Games this year and if the players of the state are not promoted, then they may desert the state in the National Games.”

“The Jharkhand government few years ago had formulated policy to give two percent reservation to players in the state services. There was also provision of cash rewards and direct appointment up to the level of deputy superintendent of police, but the players have not been given the benefit of state government’s policy,” Pathak said.