Kolkata, May 19 -- In a major push to transform the sporting landscape of West Bengal, state Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik on Tuesday announced a massive hike in cash rewards for athletes winning medals at the Olympics and other international events.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said the new government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has initiated plans to overhaul the sports department and create a stronger ecosystem for nurturing talent from the grassroots.
Under the revised proposal, an Olympic gold medallist from Bengal will receive Rs 8 crore from the state government, a steep increase from the earlier allocation of Rs 25 lakh. The reward for silver medallists has been proposed at Rs 6 crore, up from Rs 15 lakh...