From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 20: Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has promised to enhance the budgetary allocations to sports in the State in next year’s annual budget.

The Chief Minister also promised to take immediate steps to increase the monthly pension to sportsmen in distress, particularly former wrestlers and other ex-sportsmen, as well as those who had earned recognition at the national and international levels after discussing the matter with the Finance Department officials.

Gowda gave the assurance when former Sports and Youth Services Minister Goolihatti D Shekhar called on him on the plight of the many ex-sportsmen in distress in the State.

The Chief Minister also agreed to award cash prizes to the three physically challenged sportsmen from the State who had won medals in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games recently. While those who had won gold medals will be granted a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, those who won silver and bronze medals will be granted Rs 1.75 lakh and Rs 1.25 lakh respectively.

Accepting a suggestion from the former minister, Gowda said the State Government would offer cash prizes to national and international level sportsmen of value equivalent to sites provided in the neighbouring states in a bid to prevent migration of sportsmen to other states.