AIADMK gives incentives to Gomathi, Arokia Rajiv

Chennai: The AIADMK on Tuesday has extended cash incentive of Rs 15 lakh to Gomathi Marimuthu who had won 800 m gold at the recently concluded Asian Athletics Championship in Doha and announced Rs 10 lakh to another State-based athlete Arokia Rajiv.

Presenting a cheque to Gomathi, AIADMK joint coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and party’s coordinator and Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam, recalled that the late party supremo and former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had always promoted sports in Tamil Nadu by providing adequate facilities to sportspersons so as to encurage them to fetch laurels for the State.

 “In line with that, we wish to announce that a sum of Rs. 15 lakh will be provided to Gomathi Marimuthu who won gold and `10 lakh to Arokia Rajiv, on behalf of the AIADMK,” the two leaders said in a party release earlier.

 Both the leaders lauded Marimuthu and Arokia Rajiv for bagging gold and silver in the Women’s 800 m race and 4x400m mixed relay, respectively. They also wished the two athletes would achieve more records and bring laurels to the country and Tamil Nadu.

 Just a day ago, AIADMK senior and State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar had said that the Tamil Nadu government was awaiting the Election Commission’s permission to announce the cash prize to Gomathi Marimuthu, due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct.

 The opposition parties DMK and Congress provided cash awards of Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh each respectively to Gomathi. The DMK had also announced a cash incentive of Rs. 5 lakh to Rajiv.