Haryana govt to reward Vinesh Phogat with all benefits of silver medalist

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday announced that the state will reward Vinesh Phogat with all the benefits of a silver medalist, despite her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024.

“Not just Haryana, but the whole country is proud of our daughter Vinesh. Some problems arose which led to her disqualification. Despite everything, the state government has decided that we will reward her with all the benefits that a silver medalist is entitled to. How can we let her morale down”, CM Saini said while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50 kg women’s wrestling event on Wednesday. Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match.

#WATCH | Chandigarh: On wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, “… Not just Haryana, but the whole country is proud of our daughter Vinesh. Some problems arose which led to her disqualification. Despite everything, the state government has decided that we… pic.twitter.com/El94y8wYDc

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified. Vinesh Phogat had entered the gold medal bout after beating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semifinals on Tuesday night.

He criticised the opposition for indulging in politics over the disqualification matter and highlighted the central government’s efforts to “boost the morals” of sportspersons in the country.

“I have also invited bronze medalists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh to my residence tomorrow. Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the entire opposition indulge in politics in everything, including sports. Whatever our government has done for our players and the policies brought for them to boost their morals, no government has been able to do”, he added.

Briefing the reporters regarding the decisions taken during the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister announced a job security guarantee to contractual workers of the state government. He said that this will benefit those who have been working with the government for more than five years.

“We have passed an ordinance for this. The services of all contractual workers employed in various ministries of the state government, in addition to services of all contractual workers employed under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, have been safeguarded till their age of retirement. 1,20,000 employees will benefit from this act”, CM Saini said. He added that the salary structure and benefits of these workers will match that of permanent employees of the government.

The state cabinet also decided to provide bonuses to farmers on Kharif crops considering the less rainfall received during May, June and July in the state. “Due to less rainfall, the expenses of the farmers have increased, so today the cabinet has decided that a bonus will be given for the current Kharif crops This year, a bonus of Rs 2000 per acre will be given on Kharif crops. An appeal to farmers is that farmers should register their crops on the portal by August 15,” CM Saini said.

The CM said that if a farmer has less than one acre of land, he will also get Rs 2000 and added that he is the son of a farmer and understands their pain.On journalists’ pension, the Chief Minister said, “If both husband and wife in a family are journalists, then they will get a pension, earlier only one used to get a pension.” (ANI)