MEMBERS OF HOCKEY TEAM TO GET Rs 1.5 LAKH EACH UNDER SPECIAL AWARDS SCHEME OF SPORTS MINISTRY

New Delhi : 14th September , 2011:

Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Ajay Maken, took up the matter of supposedly meager amount of Rs.25000 each being given to the Hockey Team by the Hockey India (HI). Shri Narendra Batra, Secretary General, HI informed that the HI is not in a financial position to grant more reward money. He requested the Government of India to consider granting reward money to players under a special Scheme.

After discussion with the officials, it was decided that the Sports Ministry will give an award of Rs.1.5 Lakh each to the 17 Members of the Hockey Team that won Asian Championship Trophy at Ordos, China.

Later on, while briefing the media, the Minister also informed that the Government had being giving awards under the Scheme titled “Special awards medal winner in international sports events”. Under the Scheme, the Government had given cash awards worth Rs.33.89 crore in 2010-11, Rs. 5.50 crore in 2009-10 and Rs. 8.75 crore in during 2008-09.

The Minister also pointed out that during the past six months, the Ministry had, in the discharge its normal functions, spent Rs.7.81 crore on the preparation of Hockey Team for various events. Of this amount, Rs.5.97 crore were spent on National Coaching Camps, Rs.1.75 crore on Foreign Exposer trips and Rs.8.5 lakh on Foreign Experts.