Bangalore:
The government has finally decided to recognise the state athletes who won medals at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) that concluded in New Delhi on Thursday. Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Friday announced cash awards, at least on paper, for the state medallists at the CWG.
Gold, silver and bronze medallists would receive Rs10 lakh, Rs7 lakh and Rs5 lakh, respectively. The announcement comes as a ray of hope for the athletes, most of who come from middle-class families in rural Karnataka. "I am extremely thrilled," said sprinter HM Jyothi, who was part of the bronze medal feat by India in 4x100m women's relay.
"I have reached this stage with hardly any financial backing. My father, who is a farmer, has struggled a lot to get me to this position. This gesture has encouraged me to perform much better and win individual medals at the Asiad," said Jyothi, a native of Hiriyur taluk in Chitradurga district.
However, the past record of the state government with regard to cash awards is uninspiring, giving the athletes a reason to be apprehensive. "When the Centre announces something, there is some guarantee. But I have little faith in state government's promises," said Sudhir Kumar, who completed a hat-trick of medals at this year's CWG in weightlifting, but has not received any recognition.
The promised BDA sites too have not been sanctioned to athletes, including Olympians Shikha Tandon, Rehan Poncha and Anup Sridhar. "(In 2008) It was announced that I will get a site in Hiriyur, but it never happened. I really hope the government delivers its promise this time," Jyothi said.
Politicians fail athletes
States like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab are quick in living up to the promises made to athletes. Medal winners received congratulatory messages from top politicos in their respective states. The accolade, however, was missing in Karnataka.
"Apart from Karnataka Athletics Association and the media, we have not got any calls from ministers or officials. People in my district don't even recognise me and that hurts a lot," said Sudhir Kumar, a weightlifter from the state.
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