Even a year after making tall promises, the state government has yet to deliver direct jobs to medal winners of the 38th National Games. The proposal to grant out-of-turn appointments to 243 medalists is now expected to be placed before the Cabinet on February 25, but the prolonged delay has raised serious questions about the pace of decision-making.
In the 38th National Games hosted in Uttarakhand, the state’s athletes delivered an impressive performance. They secured 24 gold, 35 silver and 44 bronze medals, finishing seventh in the medal tally. Following this achievement, the government announced in its new sports policy that medal winners would be given out-of-turn government jobs. The announcement was widely publicized and projected as a landmark step to encourage sports talent in the state.
However, despite the assurances, the promised jobs have not materialized even after one year. Players who brought recognition to the state are still waiting for formal appointments. The sports department claims that the proposal has already been forwarded to the Personnel Department, where it has reportedly remained pending for a considerable period.
Sports Minister Rekha Arya has stated that the Chief Minister has assured that the proposal will be brought before the Cabinet. Yet, athletes and sports observers point out that assurances alone do not translate into employment. The delay has led to growing frustration among medal winners, many of whom had hoped that the government would act swiftly in honoring its commitment.
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The prolonged hold-up highlights a recurring issue where policy announcements are made promptly, but implementation moves at a much slower pace. With 243 athletes awaiting appointments, the upcoming Cabinet meeting is being closely watched. Whether this long-pending promise finally turns into action remains to be seen.
