Assam CM Himanta envisions 'sports ecosystem' in state after Lovlina's triumph

GUWAHATI: Buoyed by Lovlina Borgohain's incredible feat at the Olympics, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that attempts are being made to secure a sports quota while making appointments for the state government to ensure the flourishing of sporting disciplines.

"This will ensure a sports ecosystem in the state," he said, before going on to claim that no previous administration has made such endowments for the sportsmen and women.

"Every year, we will award sports pensions on September 3 of each year. Further, we will also hand over appointment letters to those who are selected for government jobs on a sports quota," Biswa Sarma said at a function held at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakhetra in Guwahati.

Sanjay Boro, silver medallist at the Archery World Cup in 2014, and Jamuna Boro, bronze winner at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in 2019, shall both be appointed as Excise Inspectors by the government of Assam, said the state's chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday.

The Assam Cabinet has decided to commemorate the birthday of Asian Games gold medalist and Arjuna Award winner Bhogeswar Baruah as state sports day every year on September 3.

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Remarking that today is a "memorable day" for the sports fraternity of Assam, the chief minister, Biswa Sarma enumerated the various achievements of the state's sporting stalwart Bhogeswar Baruah.

Biswa Sarma said that those competitors who have achieved medals at international competitions will be given pensions, provided they aren't government employees.

Today, as many as 99 sportspersons who aren't state government employees were handed over sports pensions by the state government. Additionally, 153 more who are currently employed with the government were awarded the same amount.

From January 1 onwards, these same athletes and sportspersons will be granted a pension of Rs. 10,000 each month.

Last week, the Assam Cabinet decided to increase the monthly pension given to sportspersons from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000. A one-time financial assistance of ₹50,000 each to sportspersons was also agreed upon.

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