Odisha para-athletes to look at Sports Day as black day

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s para-athletes from Odisha has introduced that they are going to observe August 29 as a black day to pursue their demand for equal rights.

Odisha Para Players Form (OPPF) accused the state authorities of a step-motherly perspective for sitting on their demand on a direct requirement scheme for the para gamers, stated Secretary Rakhel Kumar Sethy.

“Our members have brought many national and international medals. At present our state’s para-badminton player Pramod Bhagat is World No-1 and also a favourite for the medal in Tokyo Games,” stated Sethy at a media convention on Monday.

In 2012, the Odisha authorities had come out with a discover to supply amenities to para gamers on par with different athletes of the state. “Unfortunately in the new sports policy, there is no clear guideline regarding the para-athletes,” he stated.

Despite a number of reminders, the federal government will not be contemplating their reputable calls for, the affiliation stated.

Earlier in 2019, the gamers had staged a dharna and the authorities assured to incorporate them within the direct requirement scheme. “Two years passed but the file is gathering dust in the Sports Department. If the government does not consider our demand, we will again take to the street from August 30 onwards,” added Sethy.