The State Government was quick to announce government jobs for London Olympic participants. But the decision has so far failed to enthuse most of them as only two out of six have expressed their willingness to join service.
According to the office-bearers of the State Sports Council, only two sports persons, Indian Hockey team goalkeeper Sreejesh Ravindran and 20 km walker K T Irfan have expressed their interest in the gazetted posts that they were offered in the Education Department.
“Job for Olympic participants was a progressive step which could have helped the sports persons to stay back in the state. But, unfortunately, only two have responded positively to the offer as on October 5, the deadline officially announced. Now I will personally contact them and ask them to submit their willingness certificate to forsake the job if they are not interested,” said Sports Council president Padmini Thomas.
The Sports Minister K B Ganesh Kumar had earlier said that all the six London Olympic participants had expressed their interest to join the state services. The decision was to directly recruit the sports persons to the post of Assistant Educational Officer (AEO).
The key intention behind the decision was to use these sports persons to train school children once they hang up their boots.
Triple Jumper Mayookha Johny and badminton player V Diju are reluctant to part with their ONGC jobs and so is the case of Triple Jumper Renjith Maheshwary who is employed with the Railways. Others were not available for comment. Badminton player V Diju said that he was not interested in the government offer since he was better paid in ONGC.
”Technically the government’s decision is a progressive one and it could benefit those players who are jobless. If the government had offered a better pay, atleast half of what am provided at ONGC, I would have thought twice,” said the ace badminton player, who is working as a Senior HR Officer.
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