Odisha govt gives appointment to sprinters Dutee Chand, Srabani Nanda

New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today handed over the appointment letter to two leading women sprinters Dutee Chand and Srabani Nanda at Odisha Bhawan here.

While Dutee has been appointed as the assistant manager of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Srabani has been appointed as a junior manager in the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC).

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the state government has adopted a rule for direct recruitment of meritorious sportspersons of the state in Odisha Police last year in recognition of their outstanding performance and to provide them the financial security. Under the rule, 59 sports persons have been provided employment till date.

“After I did not get any commitment from the state government, I had joined the Mumbai Central Railway. But considering my performance over the years, the Odisha government has provided me a job for which I am extremely happy. I will try my best to further improve my performance in the coming days,” Dutee told media persons.

Expressing her happiness over her appointment as a junior manager in OHPC, Srabani said this is a very good initiative of the state government which will inspire the upcoming and promising athletes of the state.

“We have set a parameter for appointment of sportpersons in government jobs. Those who can fulfil the parameter, they would be assured of government jobs,” said Sports and Youth Affairs minister Sudam Marandi.

While the government has appointed the two women sprinters, eyebrows are raised as to why the state government has not treated the other prominent athletes who have won medals in the international events.

While promising sprinter Amiya Mallick has recently set a new national record in 100 metre sprint, weightlifter K Ravi Kumar had won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Besides, international hockey star Birendra Lakra who had played a major role in the Indian team that won a gold medal in the Asian Games and woman athlete Jauna Murmu had won a gold medal in the Federation Cup National Senior Athletic Championship-2016 which was recently concluded in Delhi.

As per the new rules of the state government, sportspersons who have won gold medal in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games should be directly appointed as deputy superintendent of police (DSP) in the Odisha Police.

But the government is yet to appoint these sportspersons till date.