The All India Sports Council of the Deaf (AISCD) has fervently sought the intervention of the sports minister Vijay Goel to equate medals in Deaflympics on par with Paralympics, before the departure of the Indian contingent for the 23rd Deaflympics to be staged in Samsun, Turkey, from July 18 to 30.
In a letter addressed to the sports minister, the president of AISCD, R. C. Sathian wrote, “We request your priority attention and intervention in the matter so as to ensure that justice is served to the Deaf Sports Community and to encourage them before the departure of the Indian contingent to Samsun Deaflympics.”
The AISCD has been repeatedly pleading with the sports ministry for parity in terms of cash awards with Paralympics and Olympics.
Interestingly, the sports ministry treats Olympics and Paralympics on par for cash awards, and presents Rs. 75 lakh, 50 lakh and 30 lakh for gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. The cash awards for Deaflympics are Rs.15, 10 and 5 lakh for gold, silver and bronze.
The AISCD stated that it was disappointed with the decision of the sports ministry after it failed to enhance the cash awards for the deaf, in its revised scheme of Special Awards to Medal Winners in International sports events and their coaches, amended on June 20.
“We request you that the provisions laid down in the revised RPWD Act which was modified by December 2016, equal protection to the rights of the disabled is to put into practice and thus justice be established especially in the case of deaf people and discrimination, if any, to be abolished,” the AISCD president wrote in conclusion.
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