Odisha government announces Rs 6 crore cash award and job for star para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat

BHUBANESWAR: The Naveen Patnaik- led government in Odisha has announced to provide a cash reward of ₹6 crore to India’s Paralympics star Pramod Bhagat.
The para-shuttler clinched a historic gold medal for the country in the Badminton Men’s Single SL3 in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games. The Odisha government also announced that the ace sportsperson would be provided a Group-A job in the government.
“The State government is committed to support the sportspersons and para sportspersons to achieve their potential. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik interacted with the Odisha Olympians and para-Olympian who had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics on 8th July and wished them good luck. To motivate them, he also announced cash awards for achieving medals– Rs 6 crore for Gold medal, Rs 4 crore for Silver medal and Rs 2.5 crore for Bronze medal. A grant of Rs 15 lakh was provided as support for their preparation for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics,” a government statement said.
Thirty three-year -old Bhagat, who had infected with Polio when he was 4-year-old, started playing badminton when he was ten after watching his neighbours playing the game. Initially he competed with normal players and later got into para-badminton in 2006.
Belonging to a very humble background as his father was working as a driver in a rice mill, Bhagat had struggled a lot financially. An ITI dropout, Bhagat used to run a fan repairing shop to eke out a living before he got the taste of success in badminton.
“I wish my parents were alive today to see the success of my brother. They must be at cloud nine today. My father had punished him several times for playing badminton and used to tell him to focus on studies so that he could get a decent job. Now when he has achieved all, they must be happy in heaven,” said Sekhar, younger brother of Pramod. “My brother is working as a group D employee in ESI, which he got in his own efforts,” said Sekhar.
Para-players forum in the state welcomed Odisha government’s announcement to give Rs 6 crore cash award and Group-A job for Pramod Bhagat. The forum said this will motivate other para-players to win medals and help in bringing a change in social mindset towards physically challenged players. The para-player, however, maintained that the government should also focus on ensuring basic facilities to groom talents from the ground level.
“We hope with this there will be the beginning of a new era in the field of para-sports. Many para-players will feel encouraged to bring medals in different sports. But there are many para-players who need support of training and coaching and the government should help them in achieving success. Besides, those who have played at international and national level should also be given jobs,” said Rakhal Sethy, secretary of Odisha Para-players Forum.
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