'Khelega Haryana-Badega Haryana' awareness campaign kicked off

New Delhi, February 15, 2015: The Haryana Chief Minister,   Manohar Lal, has said that ‘Khelega Haryana-Badega Haryana’ awareness campaign, kicked off today, would be cover the entire state to keep every citizen healthy and disease-free. Under the campaign, Vyayamshala will be opened in every village over two acres to draw every individual to yoga and sports.

This was stated by the Chief Minister while launching the ‘Khelega Haryana Badega Haryana’ campaign at Moti Lal Nehru Sports School, Rai, in Sonepat.

He said that every week such programme would be held in one district where one state minister would participate in the marathon along with children and local people. The campaign would laystrong foundation of a healthy Haryana and help promote sports and encourage players in the state. In order to make the state a sports hub, ‘Physical Activities and Sports Policy-2015’ has been formulated under which the amount of cash awards has been increased and new awards have been instituted.

The cash award for Gold medal in Olympics has been increased to Rs 6 crore from Rs 5 crore; for Silver Rs 4 crore from Rs 3 crore; and for Bronze Rs 2.5 crore from Rs 2 crore. The award money for participation in Olympics has also been increased from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.

Manohar Lal said that emphasis had been laid in the new policy on developing sports infrastructure of global standards. The state government will give right to employment to the medal winners in recognised international competitions. For the security of players, an insurance scheme has been formulated to insure them against sports-related accidents, sports injuries and other exigencies. A pension scheme has also been designed to offer players concrete lifetime assistance in the form of a pension. They are also being given quota in house allotment and jobs.

The existing policy of giving employment in a government department or public sector undertaking to medal winners in recognised international competitions or an outstanding player of international repute and one who has played for India in international tournaments will be made more transparent and based on well defined criteria leaving no scope for discretion.

Also present were Woman and Child Development Minister, Kavita Jain, MP,  Ramesh Kaushik, State vice-president of BJP,  Rajiv Jain, OSD to Chief Minister  Bhupeshwar Dyal, and other dignitaries.(SK Vyas/Jalandhar)