Still remember those promises? Sports stars take Kerala govt to task

 When sports stars made Kerala proud by bagging 162 medals including 54 golds in the 35th National Games, the state government instantly announced jobs to all the medalists. Four of them, including Olympians, were also offered jobs with gazetted rank. Nearly two years passed by and the sports persons are still waiting. 

The sports persons are agitated that the govt chose to ignore them once the euphoria over the startling performance of the state in the National Games. With 162 medals, Kerala finished top in the medal tally in the games, and it was second only to the Services team in point count. 

The former UDF government had shortlisted 72 names eligible for jobs. Just one among them,  shooter Elizabeth Susan Koshi, was lucky to get the promised post.

Interestingly, Koshi received a gazetted post following an Asianet News report. Athletes Anu Raghavan, Sajan Prakash and Anilda Thomas had been offered jobs with gazetted rank. The procedures, including the mandatory verification of certificates, had been completed months before and hence many of them refused job offers from other states. Now, let down by the official apathy, the sports stars regret having rejected the offers. 

"We are planning to meet Chief Minister and raise our concerns. We are hopeful still," athlete Anilda Thomas told Asianet News. 
 

• Kerala Athletes
• Jobs for sports persons
• Kerala Sports
• National Games
• Elizabeth Suan Koshy