Odisha’s Khel Ratna is still landless, the government forgot about Pramod’s job!
Did the government forget about badminton star Pramod Bhagat, who won the gold medal at the Olympics and made the state and the country proud? The government has promised to hire him for such an achievement internationally. Not a single inch of land is still in the name of this successful athlete or any member of his family. Pramod is still completely landless.
For Odisha, it was a dream to win a gold medal at the Olympics, and he lifted it from the sky and gave it a gold gift. After returning to Odisha after winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, the Chief Minister announced a cash prize of Rs 4 crore. Pramod was officially felicitated at various places including Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Bargarh. Pramod later became the first and only athlete in the state to win the ‘Major Dhyan Chand Chand Khel Ratna’ award to enhance Odisha’s prestige. The Padma Shri award was also added to his name. He had already won the Arjuna Award. Pramod has achieved such a rare feat by winning the World Champion crowns, Olympic gold, Arjuna, Padma Shri, khelaratna awards, etc., which has made a special place for Odisha in the national sports map. Despite all the successes and rewards, the joy of being from a poor family has never strayed from its goal. He has continued to excel and practice at home and abroad, maintaining his world number 1 ranking.
However, it is also unimaginable that the government will forget about athletes who have achieved such rare and inaccessible honors as Pramod. This is the reality. After winning the Olympic gold medal, Pramod was promised by the state government a first-class administrative job. According to government policy, the state government has a policy of hiring Olympic gold medalists in police or administrative services. The recruitment process is expected to be completed within three months of winning the medal. However, Pramod won the Paralympic gold on September 9, 2021 in Tokyo, and is set to complete his 10th month. However, Pramod has not yet been appointed.
The government has a policy of providing homes or apartments to successful athletes in the state. Many of the players who have had relatively less success in the past have found government housing or land in Bhubaneswar. However, Pramod Bhagat, one of the most successful players in Odisha’s history, has not yet been offered a house or land plot by the government. The ironic thing is that there is not even an inch of land in the name of this eminent athlete or any member of his family. Pramod is still completely landless.