Haryana’s Notification on State-Employed Sportspersons

Why in news?

Haryana government’s notification allows State-employed sportsperson to pursue professional sports and commercial endorsements.

What are the concerns with service rule’s for sportspersons?

• To create equality of opportunity public employment is promised to performing talent, enabling sportspersons to focus on sports and not the money.
• Under the service rules, all employees of the state are barred from undertaking any other occupation or business.
• Therefore, if an employee wishes to pursue another commercial engagement, then they must forgo the public employment.
• Conversely, the state has the claim overall proceeds that its employees make during public employment, This provision poses constraints for sportspersons.
• Ideally, if the service rules are applied, a sportsperson cannot pursue sports during the subsistence of the employment, as it would come at a cost to the office they hold. The state, therefore, makes an exception for them.
• It is because the pursuit of sports brings laurels to society and a feeling of national pride that the state treats sportspersons as being on duty while training and taking part in competitions.
• But, such a relaxation cannot extend to a sportsperson focusing solely on commercial gains.

What is the notification of Haryana about?

• Haryana government has recently decided to allow players to pursue professional competitions, something which was previously disallowed.
• Because the pursuit of professional competition came at the time and cost to the public office, it was felt that the state should not allow it unfettered.
• Therefore, the state as the employer decided to retain a fraction of the profits that the players made while pursuing commercial enterprises as long as they did it as public employees.
• The sportsperson would be given extraordinary leave (without pay) during the said period and only one-third of the income earned needed to be deposited with the state.
• This wasn’t a “tax” or “penalty” for performing players, but a fair deduction for pursuing commercial gains at the time of the employer.

What is the significance of this move?

• Since sportspersons have a short career expectancy, the move was felt that opening up the professional arena would encourage more people to take up sports as a career.
• Such money would solely be used by the State Sports Council for the development of sports.
• By this the sportsperson can enjoy the security of public employment, and also pursue any commercial enterprise related to sports.
• The society in turn gets to share their success through a feeling of national pride and contributions from that income.
• The money that the professional players contribute will only go on to help the successive generations of Olympians.

Source: The Indian Express