CHANDIGARH, Aug 10: Punjab Sports Director Col Raminder Singh today strongly defended the government's policy to present the Maharaja Ranjit Singh awards, the highest state sports award, to those sports persons who represent Punjab in the national and international meets.``This is the state award and the criteria laid down by the state government is more than justified.'' Reacting to the demand by the Punjab Olympic Association that all Punjabis be eligible for the state award, Col Raminder Singh said, ``There is no justification. However, the Punjabis, who are settled in other states or are employed outside Punjab, can be given incentives if the sufficient finance is available at the disposal of the Sports Department. If all are considered for the state award, the basic object would be defeated.''If POA was so concerned about the welfare of all the Punjabi sports persons, why did it not honour all those Punjabis who had won medals in the Bangalore-Mysore National Games in the recent award giving function, wondered Col Raminder Singh.Regarding the gradation policy, Col Raminder said, ``It is well thought out documented policy. Incentives and awards are given to to genuine sportspersons with performance. All medallists have been covered under gradation policy. The grants to the sports associations are released under government rules and regulations for audit purpose. Criteria for releasing the grants has been further simplified.''Meanwhile, some projects already approved by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, are pending execution as the related files are reportedly lying with the Sports Minister Nusrat Ali Khan. The files relating to projects, including laying of an astroturf at Ludhiana, are with the sports minister.
