E-Kantipur

APR 10 - In the real estate boom that the Valley is currently witnessing, it’s difficult to even imagine the purchase of land within city limits, forget the construction of a house. And top that in a country where sports doesn’t really pay much, and it’s nearly impossible to see how our sportspersons can build houses here. Yet, the recent government announcement that it will gift gold medallists at the 11th South Asian Games land in the Valley comes as a big surprise.

Take karateka Binod Shakya for example. Until a week back, owning a house of his own was something that did not figure on his things to do. But the National Sports Council (NSC)’s announcement has now changed his plans.

Binod was one of the eight players who struck gold for Nepal at the games in Dhaka. Originally from Ramechhaap, he has been living in a rented apartment in Sankhamul. But the government announcement has not only changed his plans, but also brought him new-found respect from his family towards his profession. “I have finally been rewarded,” 33-year-old Binod, who has spent 15 years practising his art, says. “I am positive we will get the land.”

NSC has decided to offer five annas of land, equivalent to 1,711.25 sq. ft, of land to all gold medallists inside the Valley. Speaking at the press conference, member-secretary Hari Babu Chaudhary said, “Players are the jewels of the country and we must honour them. This is our small effort at honouring their feats,” adding that the Council had also agreed to provide gold medallists with permanent jobs. 

But the proposal comes with its own share of sceptics, as in Nepal, like its politics, sports too comes with only hollow promises.

Rajendra Bhandari, who won a gold in athletics, says he believes the Council’s decision is noble, but he will reserve his judgment until the land is actually gifted. “I would be the happiest person on earth if the proposal got passed,” Bhandari says, “But it will be an uphill task as the price of land has shot up tremendously.”

But, it is obvious that the promise of land as well as a permanent job has led these sportspeople to be jubilant, and hopeful for now.

Sangina Baidya, the first Nepali to qualify for the Olympics, hails the proposal as the best incentive for players. “Rewards like this will change people’s attitude towards sports and attract more youngsters,” Baidya says, “The best part of this announcement is that it addresses one of the three essentials of a person’s life: shelter.”

But despite Baidya’s optimism, this is not the first time that the government has made a similar announcement. Baidya herself was one of the 31 players who were promised plots of land after winning gold in the 8th South Asian Games, which were hosted by Nepal. At that time, then Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai himself had made the announcement. Yet, Baidya had to wait for two more years to get their prize, which wasn’t the land in any case. Instead, they were given Rs. 300,000 in cash.

Baidya, a role model for any sportsperson in the country, was fortunate enough to be gifted a Toyota Yaris on the eve of her retirement. Even then, she had to add her personal funds to the Rs. 300,000 to buy the land to build a house in Nepaltar.

“Awards are important to boost the morale of a player,” Baidya says, “But a player cannot survive alone on morale boosters alone. That is why such prizes are important.” However, she adds, “Sadly, such prizes come came far and few between in a player’s life.”

Ayasha Shakya, an Asian games medallist in Taekwondo and also the gold medallist at the 11th SAG, welcomes the effort. Despite being busy attending felicitation programmes for the last two months, these programmes are just that: felicitations. Most of these affairs wind up by offering her a certificate; sometimes, the more generous ones have given her cash prizes between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 25,000.

Despite this, Ayasha appreciates whatever has been done to promote sports and sportspersons in Nepal. “This is the true state of our country and I am happy with any kind of honour,” she says, revealing that if the land were to be awarded, it would be an award for her hard work, and will also ensure her interest in the sport continues. “Rewards like this will root the players firmly to the sport and keep the distractions of their other professions at bay.”

Of course, the state of sports in Nepal is something that needs to be uplifted. If the Council’s decision were to be reality instead of just a promise, it would raise the hopes of many who wish to pursue a career in sports, even of those who do not have much material wealth.

“I have a house and very generous parents who cater to all my wishes,” says Ayasha, “But there are players who live in rented apartments and have financial problems. These players desperately need assistance to improve their standards of living.”

Posted on: 2010-04-10 09:10

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