Rail budget doles a magnanimous share for sports

Encouraged by sterling performances from sports persons working with the Indian Railways, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee increased the allocation for sports by 36 per cent to Rs 30 million in the new railway budget.

She also liberalised the recruitment policy for sports persons and said a separate sports cadre would be formed at the gazetted level.

Railway sports persons won three gold medals and six silvers in the Asian Track and Field athletic meet in Jakarta in August last year. Its athletes also won one gold and silver in team events in international meets.