* Coach demands inclusion of Rollball in SO-12 list
Ranjit Thakur
JAMMU, May 4: In spite of winning International and National medals, the Rollball players of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory are not considered for the Government jobs since the game is yet to be included in the SO-12 list, which guarantees employment opportunities to the athletes excelling at prestigious events.
Owing to a lack of employment opportunities, the sportspersons who have won medals at the National and International levels continue to suffer, even after the implementation of New Sports Policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hiteshwar Singh, a distinguished athlete, has not only represented India at the International level but also clinched two World Cup victories in Rollball and multiple medals at the national level. His outstanding contributions to the Rollball have been recognized with prestigious “State Award”, Sher-e-Kashmir Award and the “Rangil Singh Award” by Union Territory Administration.
“I have been playing Rollball for more than 15 years and have earned medals at both national and international levels. Many of our fellow players are considering quitting the sport because they see no future in it. Since Rollball is not included in the SO-12 in Jammu and Kashmir, we are not able to get Government jobs in the Union Territory.” Hiteshwar said.
Similarly, Suvidha Sareen, a gold medalist at a World Cup and a national medallist, has been honoured with “State Award”, “Rangil Singh “Award and many more accolades said, “I have been involved in sports for 22 years, and I have played Rollball for the past 10 years. I have competed in the Asian Championship, where India won a gold medal, and in the World Cup, where India won a silver medal. In addition, I have participated in two international tournaments and numerous national events.”
“It is disheartening to note that while the Central Government provides job opportunities to Rollball players by including the sport in the list of approved games for consideration of sportsperson services, J&K has yet to extend similar opportunities under its sports policy. The recent distribution of cash awards to sportspersons, where team event medal winners received a mere sum of Rs 833, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support and recognition for athletes,” she added.
“Many players like us, who have devoted countless years to sports, have not received recognition from the Government. For any athlete, a Government job is essential for financial stability. We are not just individuals who have won medals at an international or national level, but are also highly qualified professionals. We believe that the Government should acknowledge our hardwork and provide us job opportunities that are on par with those in other regions of the country,” she further mentioned.
Furthermore, Rakshak Jandial and Manvijay Singh Slathia have also excelled in State, National and International events and won medals urged Government to consider their requests and include Rollball in SO-12 list.
Madhu Sharma, a senior Rollball Coach, stated that the Government has offered top-notch facilities for Rollball players at MA Stadium Jammu, but the lack of inclusion of Rollball in SO-12 remains a major disappointment for sportspersons in the region. Sharma has made multiple requests to the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC) and Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, to add Rollball to SO-12 in order to uplift the spirits of athletes.
“We have urged UT administration to include Rollball in the list of games eligible for benefits under SO-12, particularly in terms of job opportunities under the Sports Quota. Providing job security and financial assistance to these deserving athletes is not only a matter of equity but also a crucial step towards boosting the morale of players who have brought honour to the State on national and international platforms.” he added.
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