Amendments in Haryana sports activities coverage is retrograde transfer, violates Right to Equality, say para-athletes

Days after Haryana authorities made new amendments to its sports activities coverage and guidelines for providing sportspersons jobs at Haryana Sports division, the para-athlete from Haryana, together with Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik, two-time World Para Championships silver medallist and three-time Asian Para Games medallist Amit Saroha, 2018 Asian Para Games gold medallist Ekta Bhyan and different para gamers have stated that the brand new amendments in coverage are in full violations of constitutional proper to equality and RPWD Act, 2016, that guarantee inclusion and eliminates discrimination on the idea of bodily disabilities.
The amendments within the sports activities coverage state that the Paralympic medalists and Para Asian Games gold medalists will probably be given Group B job as in comparison with Group A jobs provided to Olympics medalists and Asian Games medalists, moreover introducing differential therapy in different classes too.
“My mission has always been to aim for parity and inclusion of para athletes, as the able-bodied players and para players should be given equal opportunity in each field. The United Nations , along with International Olympics Committee too, have stated that Paralympics logo will be the same as Olympics apart from venues and medals and other formalities. Our Honourable PM Narender Modi and Sports minister Kiren Rijuju too have stated that para athletes should be given the same treatment and the central policy treats all equally. I don’t know why Haryana, which has always been a pioneer in supporting para sports in the country has taken such a step to display preference towards able-bodied players/events?,” stated Deepa Malik, who received the silver medal within the shotput F-53 occasion in Rio Paralympics.
The amendments additionally state that the gamers will probably be provided jobs within the sports activities division in varied classes and won’t be given HCS or HPS jobs like earlier. The new amendments state that Asian Para Games silver medalists will probably be provided class C jobs, whereas Asian Games medalists will probably be provided Group B jobs. Similarly there isn’t a provision of job for nationwide para video games winners and Malik, who can be the president of Paralympic Committee of India, finds this step a retrograde. “Each player, who competes in any international event and wins medals, is doing so under the Indian flag and the achievement is no less than in any event for able-bodied athletes. Similarly, players who compete in para national games too deserve accolades and a job in any category will help them financially,” stated Malik.
Under the amendments, there may be additionally no job for Paralympics and Asian para video games contributors and no jobs for Commonwealth Para Games bronze medalists whereas Commonwealth Games bronze medalists are provided Group C jobs. Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Para Games bronze medalists are to be given a stipend of Rs 10,000 month-to-month.
Haryana authorities has additionally decreased the age eligibility from 50 years to 42 years. “Today, we had a meeting of more than 80 para athletes at Rohtak and we will soon meet Haryana CM ML Khattar and sports minister Sandeep Singh regarding this matter. There have been instances of players winning medals at the age of 45 or more and the eligibility should be revised to the earlier limit of 50 years as per the earlier policy. It is for all the para athletes that we are asking for parity,” stated Bhyan.
Saroha too finds this to be a retrograde step for para athletes. “Haryana has always taken the lead in supporting para athletes in the country and we hope this step is taken back,” stated Saroha.
Haryana sports activities minister Sandeep Singh and Haryana sports activities director SS Phulia couldn’t be contacted.