Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Friday outlined the state government’s resolve to create a conducive environment for sportspersons to hone and showcase their talent.

Addressing the inaugural function of the under-17 sub-junior national wrestling championship (boys and girls) and Federation Cup senior men/women national wrestling championship at Shaheed Ganpat Rai Indoor Stadium in Ranchi, Hemant said the sports policy would be notified soon after receiving the state cabinet’s approval.

“Sports is among the priorities of the government and we are committed to creating a proper environment for sports so that players get an opportunity to hone and showcase talents.

“We have lined up various encouragements for the players in the new sports policy for our sportsperson. The state has a lot of talented sportspersons who have gone on to shine at national and international level,” Hemant said.

Jharkhand Sports Policy 2022, which has been sent to the state cabinet for a formal nod before its notification, envisages horizontal reservation of 2 per cent to sportspersons in government jobs and 2 per cent reservation for sportspersons for admission in educational institutions. It also envisages the creation of a sports university.

“There is an emphasis on developing a sports culture in the state. Various competitions will be organised from gram panchayat to state level.

“A cash award of Rs 2 crore has been made earmarked for gold medallist in Olympics and Winter Olympics while Rs 1 crore for silver and Rs 75 lakh for bronze and Rs 5 lakh for participants, direct recruitment to sportspersons, monthly scholarship for budding sportspersons in recognised sports, with Rs 6,000 for senior players, Rs 3,500 for juniors and Rs 2,500 per month for sub junior players,” said a sports department official.

The policy also proposes that players, who have excelled at the state level, be given between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 to buy sports material. Recipients of Arjuna, Dronacharya, Dhyan Chand Awardee, Olympic participant and Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist, who are no longer in active sport, will get Rs 10,000 monthly pension for life and their dependants will get Rs 5,000 after their death. There is a Rs 2-crore prize for bringing gold in Olympics.

More than 400 young wrestlers from across the country will be participating in the competitions. The sub-junior competition will conclude on April 17 and will be followed by followed by two-day Federation Cup senior wrestling championship.