Keralam Chief Minister Takes Action to Clear Athlete Reward Payments
Immediate Action for Athlete Rewards
Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], November 15: The Chief Minister of Keralam, VD Satheesan, recently posted a video on Instagram where he was seen contacting the state's Sports Minister, OJ Janeesh, urging him to expedite the long-overdue reward payments owed to athletes for the last seven years.
This move followed numerous athletes expressing their concerns directly to the Chief Minister regarding the lack of cash rewards despite their successes in both national and international events.
Upon receiving their complaints, the Chief Minister promptly reached out to the Sports Minister, directing him to take swift action to ensure that the outstanding payments are processed. He shared clips of his discussions with the athletes and the subsequent call with the minister on his Instagram account.
Approximately 900 athletes who secured medals in competitions during 2019-20 are set to receive cash rewards amounting to Rs 1.50 crore. Efforts are now being made to resolve these long-standing payment issues.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government's dedication to acknowledging the accomplishments of athletes while also prioritizing their welfare and financial stability.
Additionally, he highlighted the recent increase in cash rewards for gold medalists at the Asian Games to Rs 50 lakh, improved benefits for coaches, and initiatives aimed at providing equal recognition and financial assistance to para-athletes as part of the government's commitment to enhancing the sports sector.