Nitish announces ''job offer policy'' for sportsmen in Bihar

Patna, Aug 29 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today announced 'job offer policy' for sportsmen of the state, who perform well in national and international level tournaments.

Inaugurating a function organised here to felicitate sportsmen of the state on the occasion of ''National Sports Day'', Mr Kumar said that state government had decided to introduce a job offer policy for fulfilling vacancies aganist the proposed reserved posts in various departments of Bihar government.

In principle, the decision had already been taken by Bihar government to reserve posts for the well performing sportsmen in the state services and it was to be cleared by the finance and personnel department.

Under the job offer policy, sportspersons would not be required to apply for the job but the state would send job offers on its own to those deserving sportpersons, he clarified.

He called upon various sports associations to take initiative for organising national and international level games in Patna and assured that the state government would extend all assistance for such events.

''The national and international level competitions in the state would instill a sense of encouragement among youth,'' he said adding that a vast chunk of the population in Bihar belonged to the young generations.

Mr Kumar was non-committal on a suggestion for giving permission to ICL for organising cricket tournaments in Moinul Haq Stadium in Patna. The matter had been raised by the some office bearers of a particular state level cricket association. Taking a potshot at RJD president and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, he said that politicians should keep themselves away from association with sports associations and instead should play the role of felicitators in promoting sports.

The chief minister had accepted a proposal by deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to waive off entertainment tax for screening the film ''Chak de India'' in the state and directed the concerned department to put forward a proposal before him for completing the formalities.

Earlier the deputy chief minister had announced that national level football tournaments would be organised in the state and asked the sports minister to gear up his department for hosting such event in January next year. The much-awaited constrcuction work of the indoor stadium in Patna would begin soon.

State Sports Minister Janardan Singh Sigriwal said that Bihar government was committed to promoting sports from village level to the state level and a calendar had already been prepared in this regard.

Reputed athlete Prem Chandra Singh, international Kabaddi player Rajeev Kumar Singh were among others who were felicitated on the occasion.

UNI