Kerala government gives job to Vineeth, financial aid to Chitra

Decisions to this effect were taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here today.

Vineeth, a Keralite, would be appointed in the government service on par with the post of Secretariat Assistant.

Chitra, the gold medallist in 1,500 metre race in the recent Asian Athletic Championships, would be given a scholarship of Rs 10,000 per month, an official statement said.

Chitra, hailing from a financially backward family in Mundoor in Palakkad, would also be given a daily allowance of Rs 500 for her training and food expenses in addition to the scholarship, it said.

Hailing from Kannur, Vineeth was working with the Accountant General Office under the sports quota.

However, he was terminated from service recently on the ground of irregular office attendance.

Though the Chief Minister had appealed to the Union Government to reinstate the footballer as his long leave from was imperative for his training and matches, union Sports Ministry did not heed to the appeal, the statement said.

Chithra was in news recently after she was excluded from the Indian athletic team for the World Athletic Championship to be held in London next month, triggering a controversy.

The Kerala athlete, who has won several national and international gold medals, was excluded for not meeting the timing set by the Athletic Federation of India for qualification.

The sports community in the state and the state government had backed Chitra over the issue.

The government decided to extend monetary support to the athlete in view of her brilliant performance and her poor family background, the statement said.

Her scholarship and financial assistance for training would be made available through Kerala Sports Council, it said adding that the government had already assured her full support for having expert coaching facilities.