Manipur Announces Cash Awards for Rio Bound State Athletes

The Manipur cabinet, in a bid to boost the morale of the six athletes of Manipur, who are going to vie for top honours at the Rio Olympic Games 2016 in Brazil has declared an award of Rs 2 crore to those athletes who clinch gold medal, Rs 1.5 crore for silver medal and Rs 1 crore for bronze medal. A sum of Rs 25 lakh will also be given to all the qualified athletes even if they do not manage to fetch medals in the world’s largest

sports event. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in Imphal. Detailing the meeting, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the government’s spokesperson said that the even though the government’s financial condition is not too sound, the cash rewards were announced to encourage the athletes and boost their spirit. He informed that the meeting also decided to give an additional amount of Rs 2 lakh each to the parents of the athletes who have left for Rio De Janeiro to cheer their children. The six Manipur athletes who have qualified for Rio are Laishram Bombayla (Archery), Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (Weighlifting), Pukhrambam Sushila Chanu (Captain of Indian Women’s Hockey team), Thokchom Anuradha (Women’s Hockey player), Khadangbam Kothajit Singh and Kangujam Chinglensana Singh both Men’s Hockey players.

The cabinet meeting also approved the setting up of a separate Directorate for OBC and Schedule Caste and fill up Grade III and Grade IV posts in the Fishery department on the basis of direct recruitment. The meeting unanimously gave approval on establishing a Homeopathy Medical College under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India to strengthen the AYUSH system in the state. The meeting also resolved to create 25 posts in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science (JNIMS) following receipt of Letter of Permission (LOP) from Government of India for opening of six PG courses in the institute.