Kathmandu, September 14

National Sports Council today awarded six best employees, honoured 12 others with service awards and felicitated four journalists on the occasion of its 52nd anniversary.

Bhojananda Rai was named the outstanding employee of the year in administration section, while Ananta Devi Khanal was named the best. Harka Bahadur Rai received the NSC Service Award. The three employees received Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

Likewise, Dambar Dutta Bhatta was adjudged the outstanding staff among technical employees, while Badri Prasad Ghimire was named the best. Renu Devi Kunda received the NSC Service Award. The three employees received Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.

Also, Kul Bahadur Thapa and Surya Bahadur Shrestha received the NSC Service Medals, while Dasharath Sapkota, Badri Kumar Khatri, Julum Giri, Gyan Bhakta Maharjan, Bhawani Adhikari, Raju Shrestha, Vidhya Sagar Pokhrel, Om Nath Neupane, Keshari Chitrakar, Ratna Bahadur Magaju, Gambhir Man Tuladhar and Renu Devi Kunda were handed over Service Medals for completing 20-plus years at the sports governing body.

Likewise, the NSC also felicitated four sports journalists for their contribution. Dhruva Tuladhar of Nagarik, Mahesh Acharya of The Himalayan Times, Prajeet Shakya of Gorkhapatra and Rajendra Chitrakar of The Rising Nepal were honoured on the occasion. Minister for Youth and Sports and Chairman of NSC Purushottam Paudel and Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista among others handed over appreciation letters and Rs 5,000 each to the sports journalists.

Minister Paudel said the inclusion of sports as one of the fundamental rights for children in the constitution was an achievement. “Now sports is a must for the children below 18 years and this provision will help us in developing sports from the grassroots level,” said Paudel. He also informed that the Tribhuvan University was starting Masters Degree course in Sports Science from the next academic year.

Congratulating the winners, Member Secretary Bista said the NSC was planning to come up with the concrete plans and programmes on the 100th day of his appointment. “We will make public the works we did in the 100 days and also the plans for the next four years,” said Bista, claiming the NSC would be one of the most happening places in his tenure.

NSC Employees Association President Ranjan Thapa said the governing body needed to focus on the betterment of athletes and sports rather than engaging in politics. “There are so many problems within the NSC and in sports association which need to be fixed as soon as possible,” he said. “Some associations do not have their offices and some just take grant from the NSC without any programme,” he said.

“The government should also immediately resolve the problems of the national associations and Nepal Olympic Committee,” Thapa added.