Chandigarh, May 28, 2015: Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mr Anil Vij today criticised the previous government for announcing cash prizes for outstanding players without earmarking the budget for the same.
Mr Vij, who was speaking at a function in Kurukshetra, said that the present government has earmarked Rs 80 crore to give away awards to outstanding sportspersons. As and when the Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal gets time, those players of Haryana who have won medals in Asiad and international events, would be honoured with cash prizes. Also, medal winners of national games would get Rs three lakh each.
He said that a velodrom would be constructed in Kurukshetra. The state government is also getting mapping done so as to set up stadiums of international level depending upon the level of players in the game of their choice in respective area. The work to construct a Rs seven crore shooting range has started at Rai. While referring to the demand of Kurukshetra University to construct a hostel and rooms, he said that action would be taken as per the rules.
He said that Yoga Day would be celebrated all over the world on June 21 and 177 countries would take part in the celebrations. The state government is also preparing for the same. People would perform Yoga on that day between 7 a.m. and 7:35 a.m. A 35-minute CD has also been prepared for the same. He urged the students to take part in Yoga on that day.
He pointed out that now three Olympic Associations were active and these were being dominated by politics thus adversely affecting the players. He said, therefore, the President of IOA Mr Ramachandran has been urged to abolish all the three associations and instead make one Olympic association. This new association should be free from pressure of any political leader. He said that new association should file a return so that it could submit its annual details. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)