Athletes score 2% college quota

Gandhinagar: The state government, on Monday, announced implementation of 2% sports quota from the current academic year in all streams of higher education.
Separate merit lists will be prepared for the quota candidates in medical and engineering courses, while the merit list for all other courses will be prepared in common. National level players and those who have achieved gold, silver or bronze in last two years at Khel Mahakumbh will receive preference, said the government.
With the development on Monday the issue of sports quota in jobs garnered fresh attention in the public sphere, as the government is yet to issue any notification implementing sports quota in jobs.
This year, for the first time in its history, the government had promised 2% reservation for national and international-level players in class I, II, and III jobs in its sports policy, but sources said there's little movement at hand to implement the quota in jobs.
The government's lackadaisical attitude in implementing the sports quota in jobs contrasts starkly with its alacrity and speed in implementing the 10% quota for Economically Backward Class (EBC), which was implemented by a notification within a week of its announcement.
The reason, say disgruntled sportspersons, is that the EBC quota is populist and has obvious political benefits, while champion sportspersons are few in number in the state.
Draft notification for the implementation of 2% quota for sportspersons in government jobs remains stuck between Gujarat sports, youth and cultural affairs department, state general administration department (GAD) and the chief minister's office (CMO), said sports department sources.
When contacted over the issue, Manish Bhardwaj, secretary of sports, youth and cultural affairs department said, "We have submitted the draft notification to GAD, as it's in their power to notify any kind of reservation benefits in government jobs. We are hopeful that it will be notified very soon. Reservation in jobs for sportspersons will give a great boost to the sports in state.''
To all indications, the job quota for sportspersons is no more a top priority for the government.
Nanu Vanani, minister of state (MOS) for sports, youth and cultural affairs department was contacted several times, but he did not respond.