Andhra Pradesh, Telangana race to woo PV Sindhu

Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have announced massive financial rewards to PV Sindhu, along with a deputy collector rank government job and large plots of land, in a desperate bid to 'own' India's latest sports sensation. 

 

The job offers, incidentally, are all-important in this competition. In both states, those deemed 'native residents' are given special welfare privileges and government largesse. As Sindhu's father PV Ramana hails from Adilabad district in Telangana and her mother Vijaya is from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, she technically 'belongs' to both states. 

 

However, if she chooses to take up the job offer of either state, she will be deemed as a 'native' of that state. 

 

In an interesting political game, Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) waited until Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu had made his announcement first. Two hours after Naidu's press conference, KCR made his own announcement, and yes, it was higher than the one put forward by Naidu. 

The Andhra Pradesh government state cabinet, which met here in Vijayawada, has decided to organise a grand reception for the badminton star when she arrives from Rio. 

 

The cabinet meet, chaired by Naidu, decided to present a cash reward of ₹3 crore to Sindhu during the planned reception. There was also a slew of other prizes. 

 

"We will give her 1000 square yards as a site in the state's new capital Amaravati and also a Group-1 officer post in the state government. She can choose the position she wants," Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.
    

The government will also award ₹50 lakh to Sindhu's coach Pullela Gopichand, for mentoring her, he said. The cabinet has also, in principle, decided to allocate land to Gopichand - if he chooses to set up another coaching centre in Andhra Pradesh's new capital.

    
"Sindhu has become the pride for all Indians. To enhance this, we are announcing the rewards. We had been honouring sportspersons who brought glory to the country," Naidu said, recalling the rewards given to Karnam Malleswari, Gopichand and others in the past.

 

The state government will write a letter to PV Ramana to inform the family of the cabinet decision, with a request to ask Sindhu to accept these gestures.

 

If she takes it up, a deputy collector rank job in Group-1 services of Andhra Pradesh will make Sindhu a 'permanent resident' of Andhra Pradesh.

 
Meanwhile, Telangana has made a similar, but slightly, higher offer. In his announcement, KCR not only offered Sindhu a Group-1 level government job and land in Hyderabad but also declared a cash prize of ₹5 crore - two crore more than Naidu's offer. 

Meanwhile, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is planning to receive Sindhu in an unprecedented manner on August 22, when she will land in Hyderabad. She will be brought to the city from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in a massive rally.