Sportspersons’ reservation clumsy
By Pradeep Kumar
NAHARLAGUN | May 11 | Union Minister for State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today assured to take up with Railway Ministry to smoothen the process of avialing railway reservation by sports perosns for travelling in various parts of the country to take part in national and regional sports event.
When pointed out that there is 50 per cent railway reservation for sports perosns but the process to avial it is very lengthy and clumsy, Kiren, who arived here to attent the final match of Oorja Football Talent Hunt Tournament at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here, committed to take up the matter with the Railway Ministry to find an easy way out.
This editor, being the media partner of Arunachal Pradesh Football Assocation and Arunachal Weightlifting Assocation infomred told the union minister that the All India Football Federation had issued an authorisation letter to issue concessional tickets to state footbalers to attend an event in Jallandhar in Punjab. But the railway out agency here refused as the reservation computer would not accet such letter, which should be given NF Railway GM to issue directive. Why not a policy decsion by the central Govt to grant hassle free railway reservation for genuine authorised playres through centralised computer system?
But the APFA president Kipa Ajay had to buy tickets by spending from his pocket as it was matter of Arunachal Pradesh prestige.
Accepting that such problems do take place, Kiren assured that he would take up with the Railway Ministry to discuss with senior officers of the department to solve the genuine poroblem.
“As I told him that once this is done, the players of India would bless you,” Kiren smiled but added that I have already taken with central PSUs to benefit North Eastern region sports medal winners. This aims at honouring sports talents and the central Govt’s avowed policy to encourage sports persons.
“The present event conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hunt talen and encourage them to play soccer is the proof of central Govt’s commitment,” Kiren added.
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