LUCKNOW, Sept. 11 -- More than 400 ad hoc coaches across Uttar Pradesh in 31 disciplines are poised to receive a steep hike in their honorarium, with 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 Uttar Pradesh 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 in the Sports Authority of India centres and a few other states. "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 official of the sports department preferring anonymity on Thursday. "The better pay will help retain experienced coaches, attract qualified talent and improve the quality of training at district academies, stadiums and sports complexes. Many of these coaches work with sub-junior and junior athletes who are central to UP's medal ambitions in national and international competitions," he added. He also said that as a parallel measure, over 300 daily wagers employed in stadiums and government-run sports complexes across the state will also be covered under a new wage-enhancement scheme. At present, these workers, ranging from ground staff and maintenance helpers to equipment handlers, receive a fixed monthly payment of Rs 5,040 (Rs 168 per day). Under the freshly announced policy framework for outsourced and daily-wage workers, the Uttar Pradesh government has begun standardising minimum honorarium slabs between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 for different categories, alongside social-security benefits such as EPF and insurance cover....