Pargat Singh announces to lift income limit on pension of medal winner international players

Chandigarh, Nov 15 (Agency) Acceding to a long pending demand of the former Olympians, Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Pargat Singh on Monday announced to waive off the condition of income limit on pension of Medal winner international players. Announcing this during an interaction with the former players held here regarding formulation of new sports policy, the Minister said that instead of big stadiums major thrust will be laid on establishing coaching centers. He said that in order to streamline sports in the state a 20 member committee comprising of players of various games is being constituted, so that benefit can be taken from their vast experience and expertise in field of sports. Pargat Singh said that the government is process of formulating a policy wherein the services of the players recruited under Sports quota will be taken by the department. He exhorted such government officers to voluntarily opt for this scheme to uplift the level of sports in the state.

He advocated that at level of coming into service these players must give preference to department only. The Minister called upon the players to render services to the Education department so that foundation of sports can be laid at early age. He said that the department has set a target of associating five lakh youth of the state under sports. He said that for creating an atmosphere of sports in the state corporate firms, private companies and NRIs will be roped in. Meanwhile, former Olympians lauded the Sports Minister for involving them to prepare the Sports policy. They also gave their suggestions to inculcate sporting spirit amongst the youth from tender age. They said that it is for the first time that any Sports Minister has done a meeting with them on this important issue. On the occasion, Olympians Rajinder Singh senior, Gurbir Singh Sandhu, Jaipal Singh, Suman Sharma, Tarlok Singh Sandhu, Sukhbir Singh Grewal, Bahadur Singh, Harbhans Kaur, Rajpal Singh, Avneet Kaur Sidhu, Tejinder Singh Dhillon and others were also present.