Responding to questions raised by Congress MLA Ninong Ering on the floor of the recently concluded assembly session, the government of Arunachal Pradesh informed that, till now 392 persons have been appointed under the sports quota in various departments. The home department has made the maximum number of appointments, followed by the health and education departments. It is a known fact that, as per the Arunachal Pradesh Sports Policy, 10 percent of jobs are reserved under the sports quota in the police department, and 5 percent in the rest of the government departments for meritorious sportspersons in Group B, C, and D categories.
392 is a huge number for a state like Arunachal Pradesh. The government also should make it clear how many of them are still representing the state at various national and international events after getting jobs under the sports quota. There are so many allegations of corruption and nepotism in the recruitment under the sports quotas. A year ago, when the education department conducted a recruitment drive under the sports quota, allegation of candidates getting fake sports certificates surfaced. An SIT investigation is still going on in this case. The state government should make recruitment under the sports quota more transparent. Also, its time Olympic sports are given more prominence, so that the youths work hard to bring laurels to the state and the country.