There is going to be a "big jump" in the cash awards given to Punjab's sports persons who excel at Olympics, Commonwealth Games and other sporting events, Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said Tuesday.
The state's new sports policy is likely to be discussed in the next cabinet meeting scheduled on September 27, he said.
"There is going to be a big jump in the cash awards in our new sports policy," Sodhi said.
On being asked about the quantum of hike, the minister said, "It will not be a small amount".
The Congress leader said the state's sports policy would be "much better" than that of Haryana.
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The matter assumes significance as there is a huge difference between the cash awards offered by the Punjab and Haryana governments to their respective medal winners.
Punjab offers Rs 2.25 crore for Olympic gold medal winners, Rs 1.10 crore for silver medal winners and
Rs 51 lakh for bronze medal winners. For Commonwealth Games, the award money is Rs 16 lakh for gold medal winners, Rs 11 lakh for silver medal winners and Rs 6 lakh for bronze medal winners, officials said.
However, the Haryana government gives Rs 6 crore for gold medal winners, Rs 4 crore for silver medal winners and Rs 2.5 crore for bronze medal winners in Olympics.
For Commonwealth Games, the state provides cash award of Rs 1.50 crore, Rs 75 lakh and Rs 50 lakh for gold, silver and bronze medallists, respectively.
Sodhi said Punjab's new sports policy will also offer government jobs to medal winners in international sports events.
"Government jobs of DSP, PCS and Tehsildar will be offered to medal winners. Coaches will also be given incentives," he said.
Noting that the focus will be on nurturing young talent by training kids as young as 8 years, the Punjab minister said
a new sports university will come up at Patiala soon.
Sodhi added that the Asian and Commonwealth Games medal winners will be honoured at an event in the coming month.
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