The Manipur government will be awarding Asian Games medallists as well as participants with cash incentives and job offers.
This was stated by Youth Affairs & Sports director T Phulen Meitei in a statement on Thursday.
The statement also added that as there is some anomaly in the functioning of Manipur Olympic Association as the present office bearer’s tenure is already over, viz March 31, 2023, the grant-in aid to MOA will henceforth will be given directly to the affiliated sports associations and athletes through Direct Benefit Transfer.
The YAS statement further said, the state government has already initiated the process to honour the sportspersons/athletes who had represented Manipur in the 19th Asian Games with cash incentives as per the sports policy guidelines.
Athletes bagging gold medal will be awarded Rs 15 lakh while those with silver medal will be given Rs 10 lakh and bronze medal to provide Rs 8 lakh each. Participants will be extended Rs 2 lakh each.
Achievers in international events like Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and gold medallists in National Games will be given job offers in government offices, wherever the athletes deemed fit on priority basis and hierarchy of the events.
At the same time, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and YAS Minister Govindas Konthoujam have once again assured all athletes representing Manipur in upcoming 37th National Games at Goa will be extended financial support and ensured the sportspersons that they remain focused on their sports and nothing else.
On the other hand, YAS director T Phulen Meitei said, the department had extended a financial support of Rs 4,70,00,280 as grant-in aid to Manipur Olympic Association for smooth participation of the athletes in the 26th National Games at Gujarat and also for organising 2nd Manipur State Olympic Games.
However, MOA was not able to submit the Audited Statement, Utilisation Certificate, Bills and samples of the sports kits and list of officials, despite repeated requests from the YAS Department, he added.
The director summed up stating that to process and regulate control of the sports equipment that will be distributed to the sportspersons, the Department along with affiliated associations will form a committee to oversee it.
