Govt flayed for allocating only 3 marks for sportspersons

PANJIM, MARCH 26
The State Government came under heavy fire for its decision to give only 3 per cent marks to the sportspersons in the annual examination for academic year 2009-10 even as Sports Minister Babu Azgaokar maintained that decision for giving higher per cent of marks has to be approved by the cabinet.
Ex-finance Minister and Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar came down heavily on the State Government even labelling it as “insensitive” towards sportsperson. He said even six months after finalization of the Sports Policy the issue of giving higher per cent of marks to sports has not been taken. He said what is given — (3 per cent of marks that is 18 marks) in the annual examination is “peanuts” and sports persons can do without it. They don’t need peanuts, he said raising the issue through a Calling Attention in the Assembly on March 26.
He said, there is fear and anxiety in the minds of sports students with regards to government decision to give 3 per cent marks in the annual examination in variance with Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education to grant up to 52 marks for different sportspersons, which is rational and correct.
The government should do away with the sports policy if provision of the sports policy will never be implemented, he lambasted the government.
Replying to the Calling Attention the Education Minister Babush Monseratte said the Goa Board of secondary and higher secondary education has not taken any final decision about granting upto 52 marks for different sportsmen. The matter was discussed in the Executive Council of the Goa Board meeting and it is understood that they are planning to forward a suggestion it to the government, he added.
 Monseratte further said that in the meantime, the Goa Board of secondary and Higher Secondary Education is going ahead by adopting the recommendation of the Goa State Sports Policy — 2009 “ to award sports merit marks ranging from 5 marks for taluka level to 40 marks for international level participation in sports from taluka level to international level and award of additional marks for achievement at various stages of competition, subject to maximum of 3 per cent of the total aggregate of all the subjects at every internal examination and board examination at 10+2 level,”
The recommendation of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher secondary education, if any, has not yet received by the government, stated the Education Minister.