V K Malhotra demands job guarantee for Indian sportspersons

NEW DELHI: Veteran sports administrator V K Malhotra today shot a letter to Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, urging him to provide job guarantee to national and international sportspersons.

There were media reports about the pathetic condition of national level sportspersons who are forced to work in construction sites, brick klins, as coolies at Railway stations and also sell fast food on the pavement.

Moved by the reports, Malhotra "urged the Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Labour & Employment to formulate a scheme to provide employment guarantee to national and international sportspersons."

Malhotra, President, All India Council of Sports (AICS), in his letter to Bandaru Dattatreya also "suggested that the present scheme of reservation of posts in government organisations on sports quota be extended to all Private and Public Sector undertakings".

"He further suggested that suitable guidelines/directive be issued to all Labour Commissioners and District Collectors to ensure employment guarantee to Sportspersons," a release said today.

Malhotra also urged the Secretary (Sports) of all States & UT, Indian Olympic Association and concerned National Sports Federations "to maintain close data on national and international level sportspersons and co-ordinate with local District Collectors and Labour Commissioners to ensure that the sportspersons get suitable employment in their respective districts instead of suffering for want of suitable employment."