JOIN US The Karnataka government on Friday announced a cash bonanza for athletes from the State winning medals in major international competitions.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement during his budget presentation. As per the announcement, a gold medallist at the Olympic Games will receive Rs one crore, silver medallist Rs 50 lakh and bronze winner Rs 25 lakh.
Similarly, Rs 25 lakh, Rs 15 lakh and Rs 8 lakh will be presented to sportspersons winning medals in World Championships, Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Gold, silver and bronze winners in national sports meets will be richer by Rs 2 lakh, Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 respectively.
Siddaramaiah also announced a clutch of measures to boost rural sport. A total of Rs 2.64 crore will be provided at Rs. 1.5 lakh per taluk for organising a new programme called as ‘Grameena Kreedotsava’.
Hiking the monthly pension to former wrestlers from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000, the chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 2 lakh each for restoration of 25 old garadi mane and Rs 5 lakh each for construtions of new garadi mane.
A total of 1500 international, national and State-level former sportspersons in the State are getting monthly honorarium of Rs 1500, Rs 1000 and Rs 750 respectively. It will be enhanced to Rs 2000, Rs 1500 and Rs 1000.
The daily diet allowance for sportspersons undergoing training in sports schools will be enhanced by Rs 50 per day per sports person and Rs 150 will be paid to junior sports persons and Rs 175 to senior sportspersons.
The government has also decided to upgrade the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, though no details were given in the budget which has provided a total provision of Rs 142 crore for Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports for the financial year.