New Delhi: The Union Cabinet had last week approved a policy to promote sportspersons for excellence in international sports events.  As per the policy, upto three out of turn promotions can be given in their service career for winning medals in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships. The sportsperson winning a medal or more than one medal in a Game/Team Events/Championships in a particular year will be eligible for an out of turn promotion in that year. Further record-breaking medal winning performance in National Games will also be considered for one out of turn promotion during the service career.

This would be in addition to the monetary reward scheme of the Government already in existence for all medal winners in international sports events and their coaches where the quantum of monetary rewards for individuals is upto Rs. 50 lakh for medal winning performance in Olympic Games, Asian Games and World Championships.

The Scheme will be helpful in improving the performance of individual sportsperson and will play a big role in promotion of sports among the masses. The proposed policy covers all the sportspersons working with Central Government Ministries and Department.
The Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has since finalised the Scheme.  The details of the Scheme are as under:
1.    OBJECT:

To promote a sportsperson for excellence in sports events by upgradation of the post personal to the sportsperson. Such a post will continue to be upgraded in higher grade till it is vacated by the sportsperson either by his/her subsequent promotion, resignation or on retirement.

2.    TO WHOM APPLICABLE

The Scheme is applicable to all Central Government Civilian Employees and Central Services except Railways Services and services under the control of the Department of Atomic Energy, the erstwhile Department of Electronics, the Department of Space and the Scientific and Technical Services under the Department of Defence Research and Development.

3.    PERFORMANCE TO BE REWARDED BY OUT OF TURN PROMOTION

The medal winning performance in sports events to be eligible for out of tum promotion will be restricted to regular disciplines of

i. Olympic Games,
ii. Commonwealth Games,
iii. Asian Games
iv. World Championships and
v. Record breaking medal winning performance in National Games conducted by Indian Olympic Association in the regular disciplines of Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships.

The Scheme will also cover differently abled sportspersons for equivalent events/games organized for them.

4.    NUMBER OF OUT OF TURN PROMOTION TO BE ALLOWED

A maximum of three out of turn promotion in the entire service career, subject to following conditions can be allowed to sportspersons for excellence in International/National Sports events:

A.    EXCELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EVENTS.

i.    A sportsperson winning Gold, Silver or Bronze or more than one medal in Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships in a particular year will be eligible only for one out of turn promotion in that year.