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New Delhi: Laurels and
rewards flowed for the Indian cricket team Sunday, a day after it
won the World Cup, with several state governments announcing cash
awards and other incentives for the members of the victorious squad.
President Pratibha Patil felicitated the team and shook hands with
each player at a "high tea" on the lawns of the Raj Bhavan in
Mumbai.
Patil and her husband, Devisingh Shekhawat shook hands with each
Indian player, starting with skipper M.S. Dhoni.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announced a special
award of Rs.1 crore each for Maharashtra players Sachin Tendulkar
and Zaheer Khan.
He also announced a reward for the Maharashtrian support staff in
the Indian team which would match the award by the Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The BCCI had Saturday announced a reward of Rs.1 crore to each
member of the winning squad and Rs.50 lakh to each of the support
staff.
The railway ministry announced Sunday that members of the team will
be given lifetime complimentary passes to travel by air-conditioned
first class.
The passes will be available to the players along with one companion
for unlimited free travel in the country, the ministry said in a
press statement.
Congratulating the team after their win Saturday, Railway Minister
Mamata Banerjee had appealed to the central government to declare
Monday a national holiday to celebrate the achievement.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda announced in Ranchi that land
would be allotted to local boy Dhoni to set up a cricket academy and
school here.
The Jharkhand government also said it would confer an honorary
doctorate on Dhoni - who is yet to complete his graduation.
Dhoni, 29, is doing his graduation from St. Xavier's College in
Ranchi. He has been unable to complete the course due to his tight
schedule.
Jharkhand earlier gifted a 4,000 sq feet plot and a Rs.11 lakh car
to Dhoni when India won the T20 World Cup in 2007.
The Jharkhand unit of the Congress demanded India's highest civilian
award, Bharat Ratna be conferred on local boy Mahendra Singh Dhoni
for leading India to victory in the cricket World Cup after 28
years.
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa announced that his
government will allot free housing sites in the city to each of the
15 members of the Indian cricket squad that won the World Cup.
The documents will be presented to the 15 team members at a special
function the state government will hold at the imposing Vidhana
Soudha at the earliest.
The government plans to get in touch with the team through the BCCI
to organise the function in Bangalore on a date convenient to them
after the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Delhi government announced cash rewards of Rs.2 crore for Dhoni
and Rs.1 crore each for the four Delhi players in the World Cup
winning squad -- Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra and
Virat Kohli.
"Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has announced reward of Rs.2 crore
for captain M.S. Dhoni, and Rs.1 crore each for Gautam Gambhir,
Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, and Virat Kohli," a statement from
the government said:
Gambhir was the highest run getter in India's six-wicket victory
over Sri Lanka Saturday with his 97.
The Punjab government also announced cash rewards for Yuvraj Singh
and Harbhajan Singh, while Gujarat said it will confer its highest
sports award, "Eklavya Puruskar" on Munaf Patel and Yusuf Pathan,
who hail from the state. The award comprises Rs.1 lakh, a memento
and a certificate of honour.
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