The central government has introduced reforms in the recruitment, promotion and incentives framework for athletes aimed at providing enhanced incentives, transparency, and inclusivity.
Through a memorandum issued two days ago, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur announced that Khelo India medallists will now be eligible for government jobs.
This groundbreaking step now extends eligibility to medal winners from the Khelo India Youth, University, Para and Winter Games for government jobs. Additionally, games and events have been clearly defined to ensure inclusivity across various sports, a press release said today.
Thakur added that these revised rules mark a significant stride in supporting our athletes in making India a sporting superpower.
Under the revamped regulations, individuals who excel in events such as the Khelo India Youth Games (for participants aged 18 and above) and the others will now qualify for government employment opportunities. Furthermore, achievers in the School Games Federation of India will also maintain their eligibility for such positions.
Meghalaya won just one medal at January’s Khelo India Youth Games in Tamil Nadu, a gold for the men’s football team. In fact, that was the only sport the state participated in. Meghalaya did not win any medals at the even more recent Khelo India University Games.
Included in the updated guidelines is the establishment of clear criteria for national and international chess competitions, ensuring equitable opportunities for chess enthusiasts. Additionally, individuals who have represented the nation or a state in either international or national events, or demonstrated success in junior national tournaments, will be eligible for employment. A structured hierarchy based on sporting achievements will be adhered to for prioritising candidates.
To streamline the process for athletes to avail benefits, the roster of authorised entities empowered to issue certificates validating the eligibility of sportspersons for recruitment has been revised.
Now, secretaries of national sports federations (for international events), secretaries of state associations (for national competitions), and deans or sports officers of universities (for inter-university tournaments), among others, will have the authority to issue such certificates.
