Bihar athletes are currently shining bright as the government’s “Medal Laao, Naukri Paao” (Win a Medal, Get a Job) scheme is starting to bear fruit. In the past, it could take up to 10 years for athletes to go from winning a medal to securing a government job. However, with the upcoming elections in 2024, athletes are now receiving appointment letters quickly under this scheme. One such athlete is Saurav Kumar from Begusarai district, who has been appointed to the Minor Water Resources Department as a result of his achievements in Taekwondo.
The Bihar government has initiated the “Medal Laao, Naukri Paao” scheme to provide government jobs to athletes who excel in various sports. Saurav Kumar, hailing from Hazipur village in Barauni block of Begusarai district, is one of the first 5,000 athletes associated with Taekwondo in Bihar to receive a government job under this scheme. In 2023, he won a bronze medal in Puducherry and now he has been appointed directly to the Minor Water Resources Department in the Secretariat under the “Medal Laao, Naukri Paao” campaign.
According to Taekwondo coach Nandu, there are 1,000 athletes in Begusarai district alone, and out of all these athletes, Saurav Kumar is the only one who has secured a job through this sports-to-employment initiative. He had won a bronze medal in the 38th Senior National Taekwondo Championship held in Puducherry in 2023. Based on this achievement, the Bihar government has provided him with a job. Vinod Kumar, Secretary of the Barauni Refinery Officers Association, mentioned that the initiative is fulfilling the dreams of aspiring athletes.
नीरज कुमार, बिहार के रहने वाले एक खिलाड़ी हैं जिन्हें मेडल लाओ नौकरी पाओ योजना के तहत सरकारी नौकरी मिली है. पहले के दौर में ऐसी योजना काफी पुरानी होती थी और खिलाड़ियों को नौकरी पाने में बहुत समय लगता था. लेकिन 2024 में यह योजना फटाफट नतीजे देने लगी है. नीरज कुमार के साथ ही बेगूसराय जिले के सौरव कुमार को लघु जल संसाधन विभाग में नौकरी मिली है. बिहार में ताइक्वांडो खेल से जुड़े 5 हजार खिलाड़ी हैं और उनमें से इन दोनों खिलाड़ियों को नौकरी मिलने का मौका मिला है. इसके आधार पर बिहार सरकार को तारीफ मिली है क्योंकि यह योजना खिलाड़ियों के सपने को पूरा कर रही है.
