The state cabinet took the decision to approve the Meghalaya Outstanding Sportspersons Direct Appointment Policy 2025 through which medal winning athletes will be provided with government jobs.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had already indirectly referenced the policy early this month when he promised Meghalaya’s first medallist at the 38th National Games, Pynshngain Kurbah, a government job.
The medallists should have participated and won medals at prestigious mega events like the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, South Asian Games or National Games to be eligible for the jobs.
Detailed classifications have been outlined, but the CM did not go into too many details as the issue is a little complicated.
Simply put, Sangma said that if an athlete wins a gold medal in the National Games, they will be given a Category B job, while silver and bronze medalists will receive Category C jobs. For the Olympics, a gold or silver medal will qualify for a Category A position, while a bronze medal will fall under Category B.
However, it gets a little less clear-cut because certain jobs have certain qualification requirements.
“These details are complex, which is why I didn’t go into them earlier, as it would lead to a lengthy discussion. [This is ] something we have already deliberated on in today’s cabinet meeting…If an athlete is eligible for a Category A position, such as a DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) rank, they would need to meet the minimum educational qualifications, like being a graduate. If they do not meet these requirements, they will be given a specific time period to qualify. We have considered these scenarios and decided to proceed accordingly. What’s important to note is that we are guaranteeing job appointments for medal-winning athletes, similar to what many other states have done. This is the first time Meghalaya is implementing such a policy and it aligns with the state Sports Policy. This initiative, which was part of the policy framework, is now being put into action,” Sangma stated.
