North-Eastern council announces rewards for Olympic medallists

Agartala - The regional planning body North Eastern Council (NEC) has announced cash rewards for the London Olympics medal winners belonging to the country’s north-east region, an official release said Friday.

NEC Director Sherry Lalthangzo said Rs.40 lakh would be given to athletes who will win gold medals at the Olympics.

“Besides, Rs.20 lakh and Rs.10 lakh would also be given to those winning silver and bronze medals, respectively,” said the release.

Several athletes from various north-eastern states are part of the Indian contingent. The cash reward has been declared under the “North Eastern Council Chairman’s Sports Award for Excellence” scheme.

The NEC, in the past, has given Rs.10 lakh, Rs.five lakh and Rs.three lakh, respectively, to gold, silver and bronze medallists of the Asian Games in Guangzhou and Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

“Sports persons from Manipur are always at top among the north-eastern states getting cash rewards followed by Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim,” the release added.