Siddaramaiah to consider making ‘positive decision’ on 2% quota for sportspersons

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said currently a three per cent reservation is being given to sportspersons in police and forest departments, and it will be 'positively reviewed' to give a two per cent quota for employment in other government departments.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Wednesday that he will consider making a “positive decision” on reserving 2 per cent of government jobs for sportspersons in all departments.

The 2 per cent quota, if introduced, will not apply to the police and forest departments where the government already has 3 per cent jobs reserved for sportspersons.

“There’s already a 3 per cent reservation in the police and forest departments. The Karnataka Olympic Association has sought 2 per cent reservation for sportspersons in other departments. I will try to consider this and make a positive decision,” Siddaramaiah said.

The CM was speaking after felicitating eight sportspersons from Karnataka who won gold and silver medals at the recent Hangzhou Asian Games - Rajeshwari Gayakwad (Cricket), Rohan Bopanna (Tennis), Mijo Chacko Kurian and Nihal Joel (men’s relay), Mithun Manjunath and Sai Pratheek (Badminton), Divya TS (Shooting) and Aditi Ashok (Golf).

The state government awarded a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh to each gold medal winner and Rs 15 lakh for silver.

Siddaramaiah also felicitated coaches hailing from Karnataka who contributed to India’s medal tally at the Asian Games - V Tejaswini Bai (Kabaddi), Ankita B S (Hockey) and C A Kuttappa (Boxing). They were awarded Rs 5 lakh each.

“It is the duty of the nation and state to encourage sports and athletics. Our government will do that,” Siddaramaiah said. He recalled that in 2017, during his first term in office, the government announced that Olympic gold medalists would get Rs 5 crore, Rs 3 crore for silver medalists and Rs 2 crore for bronze.

Siddaramaiah noted that India had overtaken China as the world’s most populous country. “It’ll be a matter of pride of India finishes first or second at the Asian Games,” he said.