Approval to Increase the Prize Money of Players and Coaches

• 13 Jul 2022

Why in News?

• On July 12, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has given approval to increase the prize money for the promotion of players and coaches. Now Maharana Pratap Award and Guru Vashishtha Award winners will be awarded with prize money of Rs 5 lac each.

Key Points

• In a financial year, 5 Guru Vashisht Awards and 5 Maharana Pratap Awards will be given. So far, each winner in these awards has been awarded an amount of Rs 1 lac.
• Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced an increase in the prize money during the dedication and sportsman felicitation ceremony at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on May 29, 2022 .
• It is noteworthy that in the year 2014, the amount of Maharana Pratap and Guru Vashistha Award was increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lac. With the important decision of the Chief Minister, the prize money has now increased five times.
• Guru Vashisht Award was instituted in the year 1985-86 and till now a total of 40 outstanding sports coaches have been given this award. Similarly, Maharana Pratap Award was started in the year 1982-83 and till now a total of 170 outstanding sportspersons have been awarded.
• These awards are the best sports awards of the state, which are given to selected players and coaches who have performed best at the international level.
• It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister had increased the prize money for Olympic medal winners to encourage sportspersons in the state. In this, the prize money of the medal winners was increased from Rs 75 lac to Rs 3 crore for the Gold Medalist, Rs 50 lac to Rs 2 crore for the Silver Medalist and Rs 30 lac to Rs 1 crore for the Bronze Medalist.
• Similarly, the prize money of Rs.30 lac, Rs.20 lac and Rs.10 lac for winning Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals in Asian and Commonwealth Games has been increased to Rs.1 crore, Rs.60 lac and Rs.30 lac respectively.
• It was also decided by Chief Minister Gehlot to give appointments to the medal winning sportspersons in the state in the government services on the basis of an out-of-turn policy to promote sports. So far, 229 players have been appointed in various departments.