Chandigarh, January 1, 2017: Hayana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal said that the State Government has constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary to seek its recommendations so as to streamline the process of giving employment to the outstanding sportspersons in the State. Also, Wrestling Mats would be provided to 100 “Akhadas” during this year to facilitate the wrestlers. The Chief Minister was replying to the questions of media persons shortly after honouring two Phogat sisters namely Geeta and Babita at his residence here today. Both Geeta and Babita are ace wrestlers who hail from Balali village in district Charkhi Dadri. The Chief Minister said that based on the recommendations of this committee, a new policy would be formulated. He was asked to comment on the issue of giving jobs to outstanding sports persons in the State as despite a policy, some sportspersons had approached the Court to get Government jobs. The Chief Minister surprised all those present on the occasion by giving the first ever “cashless Shagun” to Geeta Phogat who has recently been married. The Chief Minister also urged the people to prefer making cashless transactions as this is an easy and clean mean to pay others or buy something.
Manohar Lal was all praise for their parents who were accompanying them. He said that these sisters have brought laurels to the State and the nation. He said that their father, Mahavir Phogat has submitted to him a charter of demands for development works required to be undertaken in their native village. These included improvement in sports facilities and repair of a road, especially development of sports infrastructure over an area of ten acres in the village. He said that the State Government was taking a number steps to promote sports in a big way so as to make Haryana a Sports Hub. In reply to a question about the significant achievements of these two wrestler sisters, the Chief Minister said that now a film “Dangal” has been made on their lives and such initiatives give boost to the efforts being made to improve the sex ratio in the State. The sex ratio which was 850 per thousand boys has now crossed the mark of 914 girls per thousand boys. He said that as a result of the initiatives being taken by the State Government to enhance the socio-economic status of the women, more girls as compared to the boys are excelling. Mahavir Phogat, father of Geeta and Babita, thanked the Chief Minister for honouring both sisters in recognition of their significant achievements.
While interacting with the media persons, Geeta said that she and four of her sisters would participate in the second edition of thePro Wrestling League beginning tomorrow. Others present on the occasion included Media Adviser to Chief Minister, Amit Arya, Additional Chief Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr. K.K.Khandelwal, Director , Information, Public Relations and Languages, Sameer Pal Srow and Media Incharge of BJP Haryana Unit, Rajiv Jain.