Chandigarh: Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab today launched a major initiative to provide job security to the outstanding players by setting aside 125 jobs every year exclusively for National and International Players. Addressing the players in a glittering function organised to confer Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, Mr. Badal recalled that he thought of introducing this award after seeing the condition of former Olympic player, who was grazing the animals in those days. Horrified by his condition he announced Rs. 1 lakh award for maximum 15 players annually with the social security setup.

Mr. Badal said that today while giving away prizes to the players he noticed that most of the players were looking for job security and he has agreed to the proposal of Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab to set aside minimum 125 jobs in different categories for the players and asked Deputy Chief Minister to submit the proposal in next Cabinet meeting. Advising players not to leave sports after joining service, Mr. Badal said that they should dedicate first five years of their service to promote their games and nurture talent in the villages. He also requested veteran players to adopt at least one village for promotion of sports for which State Government would provide them total support. Lauding the enthusiasm of Deputy Chief Minister for putting Sports Department at higher orbit, Mr. Badal said that for the first time in his 60 years old political career he has witnessed total transformation of Sports Department. He said that the way the Deputy Chief Minister has brought Kabaddi on the world forum, it has sent positive vibes all over the globe. Asking Sports Officials to properly monitor the implementation of Government Schemes, Mr. Badal said that he would expect that every official goes to the field to supervise the implementation of the schemes and directed the Sports Department to work out a plan for constant maintenance of Sports Infrastructure. In his own style, the Chief Minister said that politics also is a most difficult game, where you have to be cautious every minute for survival. He said that at least he also deserved a Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in the ‘game of Politics’ for being Chief Minister of Punjab for five terms. He regretted increasing vendetta in politics, where leaders of other parties were being viewed as enemies. He said that he failed to understand the politics of today where a brother is opposing his brother in politics and it has also polluted the sacred relationship of brother and sister. He also said that we the politicians of old school don’t understand this degeneration in polity. Earlier addressing the sportspersons, the Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he was moving with the focused approach to uplift the sports department. He said that Punjab would setup Institute of Sports Excellence at Mohali next month with its sub-centres at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Mohali.

The Sports Department would engage the services of foreign coaches to nurture sports talent and budding players’ right from primary schools would be provided boarding, loading, scientific training, diet, kits and all other facilities till they are trained to compete an international event. He said that Sports Department would launch a systematic talent hunt in the villages and thanked Chief Minister for launching a Job Security Plan for the sportspersons. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Member Rajya Sabha and President Punjab Olympic Association recalled the efforts of Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal for taking care of interests of the players. As many as 67 outstanding sportspersons from different sports disciplines were conferred the highest state sports award --- Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award here today. The prestigious sports award, instituted in 1978, carries cash prize money of Rs.2 lakh, a trophy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh astride horse back in warrior dress, a blazer with pocket, a tie and a scroll of honour.

The last time this award was distributed was in 2004. With distribution of prizes on April 29, the number of awardees are 191, including 67 from year 2005 to 2010. The awardees today included 10 outstanding players of year 2005, 9 of 2006, 14 of 2007, 14 of 2008, 9 of 2009 and 11 players of 2010. It may be added that the Award is given to 15 outstanding players every year on the basis of their performance in the preceding five years. One Award each in the disciplines of cricket, circle kabaddi and physically handicapped Games is also given.