Sports women demanded 'Jijamata Award' be introduced

Pune June 18 (UNI) A delegation of city's sports women today demanded that 'Jijamata Award' be introduced for outstanding women organisers on the similar lines of the annual Shiv Chhatrapati awards.

The delegation put forward their demands to Maharashtra Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and Education Vasant Purke who was in the city this morning.

The Maharashtra Government annually honour the outstanding sportspersons with the State's highest sports awards but has yet to implement the introduction of best women's organiser in its category of awards.

The demand have been mothballed since 2003.

The National Sports trust (NST) a leading sports body of women having the past and present Arjuna and Shiv Chhatrapati awardees however, once again took the lead and prevailed upon Mr Purke to introduce the 'Jijamata Award' from the current year itself.

Mr Purke who is also the Education Minister was in Pune met the sports women delegation headed by the NST founder member and former Shiv Chhtarapati awardees Manisha Ghate (Kodhalkar), Gurbans Kaur, Shobha Nikam, Dhyanchand awardeed Smita Yadav (Shirole), Arjuna awardee Rekha Bhide (Mundphan), and recent winner of Shiv Chhatarapati award Nita Talavlikar.

After explaining their stand the delegation also pointed out that the state government has to correct the lacuna arrising in its GR issued earlier which stated ''Coaches'' instead of ''Organisers.'' Due to the error in the government GR no application from the women organisers were received since the past two years the delegate pointed out.

Mr Purke who gave a patient hearing to the delegation however, assured them that he would apprise Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh of the proposal. The minister also accepted their demand to carry out the necessary correction and remove the lacuna from the government GR which would pave the way for the 'Jijamata award' to be introduced from the current year onwards. The minister also agreed to make the age limit for the awardees to be made 40 years instead of the 50 years as was stipulated earlier.

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had not only endorsed the proposal of Mohite Patil but had made a strong recommendation as well to introduce the said award so as to encourage more women sports organisers to uplift the sports among women and bring glory and honour to the State on par with men.

The NST which came into being five year back has introduced the ''Tulja Bhavai'' awards to honour outstanding women sportspersons from the district which has now been upgraded to the state level as well. The award is presented in nine categories which carries a replica of ''Tulja Bhvani'' cash award and a citation.

After getting the assurance from the sports minister Mrs Manisha Ghate told UNI that the introduction of the 'Jijamata Award' would not only open a new avenue but would produce more and more women sports organisers. Similar views were expressed by Arjuna awardee Rekha Bhide and the Dhyanchand awardee Smita Yadav.

UNI IS MJ AY KP1904