THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has decided to provide jobs for 86 sports persons who won medals for Kerala in the recently-concluded National Games.
The Cabinet on Wednesday announced a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh each to members of Kerala teams that struck gold, Rs 2 lakh to silver medalists and Rs one lakh each to members of Kerala teams that got bronze medal.
It decided to provide jobs for medal winners from the state in individual items as well as to members of Kerala teams which won gold. Of the total 106 individual medal winners, 46 have no government job at present. They will be provided jobs, the Chief Minister said.
As many as 102 athletes - members of Kerala teams that won gold at the games - are eligible for government job as per the decision. However, of this, 62 are already employed. Hence, the remaining 40 will get new jobs, Oommen Chandy said. ‘’Regarding the 122 athletes who already have jobs - 60 individual medal winners and 62 members of teams that won gold - they will be given either a grade promotion or an increment, whichever is beneficial to them,’’ he said.
The government is exploring the possibilities of supporting the coaches who trained the athletes for the event. It is also looking into supporting athletes who won silver and bronze medals in team events. Of them, 94 sports persons are already employed while 85 are in need of job.
The government will give support to the four sports stars - Sajin Prakash, Elizabeth Susan Koshy, Anilda Thomas and Anu Raghavan - who qualified for Olympics, said the Chief Minister. They will be given all facilities for training within or outside the country, he said.