LUCKNOW, Sept. 11 -- More than 400 ad hoc coaches across UP in 31 disciplines are poised to receive a steep hike in their honorarium. A formal proposal has already been recommended by concerned sports officials and is currently awaiting approval from top state authorities. The move comes as part of a broader push to strengthen grassroots coaching and improve working conditions for support staff in government-run sports infrastructure. Highly placed sources in the UP Sports Directorate confirmed that the proposal, which has cleared departmental scrutiny, seeks to substantially upgrade the monthly remuneration of ad hoc coaches engaged under various state sports programmes, including the "One District One Sport" initiative that currently pays trainers a monthly honorarium of around Rs 25,000 each. While the exact revised figure is yet to be officially notified, sources indicate the new rates will align with the state's evolving honorarium structure for outsourced and contractual sports personnel. Currently, assistant coaches and young contractual young professionals receive Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 per month. "Yes, we have proposed a hike in remuneration of ad hoc coaches across 75 districts in the state, and are waiting for a final discussion on its final draft. Once it is approved at our level, it will go to the state cabinet for approval," said a senior sports department official. htc...