The government has agreed to give both a cash award of Rs 4 crore and a Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) plot to wrestler-turned-Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat. However, the letter to Phogat from the Sports Department had mentioned that she was to choose one of the three benefits earmarked for Olympic silver medallists, which included a cash award, a plot, and a Group A job.
Talking to The Tribune, Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam said, “We had asked her to give us options on cash award, plot, and job. She has expressed her desire to have cash and land. We have moved the file to give both. The CM will approve the file.”
As per the state’s sports policy, an Olympic silver medallist is entitled to get a cash award of Rs 4 crore, a Group A Outstanding Sportsperson (OSP) job, and an honorary allotment of an HSVP plot.
Which “ones of three” or which one of three
The Council of Ministers had, on March 25, decided that as the CM had posted on X to treat Phogat’s achievement in the Paris Olympics 2024 as equivalent to that of an Olympic silver medallist, she would be treated as a special case.
The Cabinet decision said, “It was decided that the member (Phogat) may be requested to inform the Sports Department in writing within a period of 15 days, as to which ones of the three rewards does she wish to obtain.”
The letter from the Principal Secretary, Sports Department, to Phogat, dated March 27, quoted the Cabinet meeting decision. But while interpreting the decision, it is further mentioned, “Accordingly, you are requested to send your choice in writing within a period of 15 days in the O/o Director General, Sports Department, Panchkula, as to which one of the following three rewards you wish to obtain.”
The ambiguous letter created confusion. The department also did not issue a statement whether it was a typographical error.
In her reply to the department, Phogat said she wanted both cash and plot.
