Making no bones about his displeasure over receiving a lower cash award than some of this teammates, Harmeet Desai, who won a gold and a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, said that he would not deposit the cheque of Rs 33 lakh handed over to him by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday. "I will not deposit this cheque (in the bank), and will do it along with the next one," the table tennis player from Surat, told reporters after he met the CM in Gandhinagar. Harmeet was awarded a prize of Rs 33 lakh by the state government, but the paddler said that his teammates from other states received three to four times the amount as award. "I think this is unfair. Gaining limelight as a sports star is much more difficult in Gujarat compared to the other states. The cash award for sports persons in Gujarat should match that in other states or be more so that youngsters feel encouraged to take up sports as a career," Harmeet said. The 25-year-old, who returned to Surat to a rousing welcome on Wednesday, said that Rupani had promised to increase his cash award as a special case. In August 2014, then CM Anandiben Patel had announced award of Rs 5 crore for every Olympic gold winner from the state. She had also announced an award of Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh for Commonwealth gold, silver and bronze medal winners, respectively from the state. VP Patel, secretary of state's sports, youth and cultural activities, however, said that the prize amount given to Harmeet was in line with the state's policy. "Harmeet is comparing the prize award with that of some other states, but the amount is as per laid down policy. An individual gold medal winner in Commonwealth Games is entitled for a cash award of Rs 1 crore, but for team events, the amount awarded is one-third. Accordingly, Harmeet was awarded Rs 33 lakh under the Khel Pratibha Puraskar on Thursday," Patel said. In a statement, the state government said that Harmeet has been awarded a total of more than Rs 1 crore so far. "The state government has extended assistance and prize money of Rs 1.09 crore to Harmeet Desai for bringing laurels to the state at the international stage since the 2015 World Championship," it said. The statement further said that Harmeet was paid Rs 60.46 lakh under the Shaktidoot Yojana from 2007 to 2017-18, and another Rs 16.50 lakh Khel Pratibha Puraskar. GOVT SAYS...

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