Meghalaya Govt to Introduce Direct Government Jobs for Medal-Winning Sportspersons

Shillong: The Meghalaya government is expected to soon roll out the Meghalaya Sportsperson Direct Recruitment Policy for athletes who win medals at national and international events to secure government jobs without undergoing competitive examinations or standard recruitment processes.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said, “Sportspersons who bring laurels to the state by winning medals at the National Games, Asian Games, Olympics, or Paralympics will be directly appointed to government positions.”

He added that the policy is now in its final stages, with the roster system and related procedures currently being finalised.

The minister said that the previous system offered only a 2 per cent reservation quota for sportspersons, forcing medal winners to compete among themselves for limited vacancies.

He added, “This approach discouraged many athletes from pursuing rigorous training and also deterred parents from encouraging their children’s sporting careers.”

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also addressed the event, recalled the introduction of the Meghalaya Sports Policy in 2009 and its subsequent merger with the national sports framework in 2025. “Sport should be viewed as a viable profession for our youth, not just a pastime. This philosophy underpins the integration of state and national policies, as well as the decision to grant permanent government employment to those who bring pride to Meghalaya through medal-winning performances,” he said.

Tynsong further said that the government was committed to addressing social issues impacting young people, urging communities to unite in eradicating social evils from villages.

He dismissed criticisms of government inaction in the sports sector and praised the Umpling Sports Club for its memorandums and presentations, assuring that the second phase of the Mini Sports Complex would be completed promptly.

Shylla pointed to a dramatic increase in the Sports Department’s budget as evidence of heightened investment in sports infrastructure, tournaments, and youth development. “For the past six to seven years, the annual allocation hovered around Rs 50-60 crore, which constrained progress. This financial year, it has surged to Rs 449 crore,” he revealed.

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