Maharashtra Expands Cash Prize Scheme

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a major expansion and revision of the state’s cash prize scheme for medal-winning sportspersons and their coaches.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The revised scheme aims to recognise the hard work and achievements of athletes performing at national and international levels, while also acknowledging the contribution of coaches who play a key role in their success.

Under the revised provisions, cash prizes for the National Games have been substantially increased. Gold medal winners will now receive Rs 7 lakh, against Rs 5 lakh earlier, while silver and bronze medal winners will get Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively, compared to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh earlier.

For the World University Games, the prize money has been fixed at Rs 10 lakh for gold, Rs 7 lakh for silver and Rs 5 lakh for bronze. Khelo India medal winners will receive Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively.

The prize money for the Youth Olympics and Youth Paralympics has also been increased significantly. Gold medal winners will receive Rs 50 lakh, up from Rs 22.5 lakh, while silver and bronze medal winners will get Rs 30 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively.

The revised scheme also covers major competitions in tennis, badminton and hockey. Winners of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments will receive Rs 3 crore each, while runners-up will get Rs 2 crore. Winners of the Thomas Cup, Uber Cup and Sudirman Cup in badminton will receive Rs 40 lakh, with Rs 20 lakh for runners-up.

In hockey, winners of the senior Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Champions Trophy will receive Rs 40 lakh, while runners-up will get Rs 20 lakh. The winner of the junior Sultan Johor Cup will receive Rs 20 lakh and the runner-up Rs 10 lakh.

The scheme provides a 10 per cent share of the athlete’s cash prize for coaches, with a maximum of three coaches eligible. The amount will be divided according to their role—30 per cent each for primary and skill-development training and 40 per cent for final or advanced training.

The revised scheme also introduces provisions for Deaf, blind and Special Olympics competitions, including the Deaflympics, IBSA World Championships, Blind Cricket World Cup and Special Olympics World Games. The earlier requirement of participation by at least eight countries has also been relaxed. Prize money will now be linked to the number of participating countries, enabling more athletes to benefit from the scheme.

A detailed government resolution on the revised provisions will be issued shortly. This move is expected to boost the morale of athletes and coaches in Maharashtra, and encourage them to perform better at national and international levels.

The expansion of the cash prize scheme is a significant step towards promoting sports in Maharashtra, and recognizing the achievements of athletes and coaches. It is expected to have a positive impact on the sports ecosystem in the state, and contribute to the development of sports infrastructure and talent.

In the coming days, the state government is expected to release more details about the revised scheme, including the eligibility criteria and the process for applying for the cash prizes. This will help athletes and coaches to understand the scheme better and avail of its benefits.

The decision to expand the cash prize scheme has been welcomed by the sports community in Maharashtra, who see it as a major boost to their efforts. It is expected to motivate more athletes to take up sports, and to perform better at national and international levels.

In conclusion, the expansion of the cash prize scheme is a significant development for sports in Maharashtra, and is expected to have a positive impact on the state’s sports ecosystem. It recognizes the achievements of athletes and coaches, and provides them with a financial incentive to perform better.

The move is also expected to contribute to the development of sports infrastructure and talent in the state, and to promote sports as a career option for young people.

Overall, the expansion of the cash prize scheme is a welcome move, and is expected to have a positive impact on sports in Maharashtra.

What it means: The expansion of the cash prize scheme is a significant development for sports in Maharashtra, and is expected to have a positive impact on the state’s sports ecosystem. It recognizes the achievements of athletes and coaches, and provides them with a financial incentive to perform better.