Two months after he announced a 2% sub-quota in select government jobs for outstanding sportspersons, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday said the sub-quota will be raised to 3%.
Addressing an event organised by various sports associations to felicitate him for the earlier announcement, Mr. Palaniswami said the decision on the sub-quota was made after considering representations and requests from various sports associations and Sports Minister P. Balakrishna Reddy, seeking a hike in the sub-quota.
A committee tasked with working on the implementation of the earlier decision on the sub-quota had already been constituted, he said.
During his speech, Mr. Palaniswami advised youth to consider academics and sports as ‘two eyes’ and encouraged them to do well in both fields. Sports encouraged brotherhood, unity and discipline in students and developed leadership and a target-oriented approach, he noted.
The Chief Minister also listed the State government’s efforts to promote sports in Tamil Nadu. He underscored the ongoing efforts to set up a badminton academy at an outlay of ₹10 crore.
Referring to the ban on plastic which would come into force on January 1 next year, he called for the participation of the youth in efforts towards making Tamil Nadu plastic-free.
Mr. Palaniswami also handed over cheques to students who had won medals in various sporting events.
During his speech, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam recalled the steps taken by the AIADMK government under former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to promote sports in the State.