By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu- The Nepal National and International Players Association (NIPA) has expressed its gratitude towards the newly-appointed Member Secretary of the National Sports Council, Tanka Lal Ghising, for taking initiative to draft a work procedure regarding athletes’ insurance and to resume national team training immediately after assuming his office.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers had appointed Ghising as the member secretary of NSC last week. A delegation of NNIPA led by its president Deepak Shrestha on Wednesday congratulated Ghising on his appointment and also submitted a six-point memo with suggestions. NNIPA has drawn the attention of the new member secretary regarding the same issues it has been raising since a long time.
NNIPA has urged the member secretary to ensure that the government properly manages education, health, insurance, travel and allowances of players and former players. The players have also drawn the attention of Ghising towards lack of work procedure regarding allowances players are entitled to receive. According to the players’ association, although international medalists have been receiving cash incentives from the government, lack of work procedure has caused them lots of trouble in receiving the amount. They say that they have to visit the concerned bodies numerous times to claim the cash incentives due to the lack of work procedure.
Recalling that the government in the past used to provide employment opportunities to SAG and Asiad medalists within the sports sector, NNIPA urged Ghising to give continuity to the same provision which has been removed after the 12 SAG.
Stating that the National Players’ Welfare Fund currently has Rs 14 million through annual contribution of Rs 1 million from the Finance Ministry, NNIPA said that the ministry has stopped its contribution since some years. NNIPA urged Ghising to take initiative to contribute Rs 2 million to the fund from the state coffers.
Upon receiving the suggestions from the players, Ghising said that he is ready to cooperate with all stakeholders to ensure the rights of the players.
