Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani handed over Rs 33 lakh cheque to Surat based table tennis player Harmeet Desai who recently won gold in 21st Commonwealth games in Australia.

Harmeet had previously won gold in table tennis world championship in 2015 and also in Asian championship. The State government has so far handed over him Rs 1,09,96,000 assistance and award money.

Under the Shaktidoot programme initiated by then Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi in year 2007, sportsperson are given need-based assistance. Harmeet has been given Rs 60.46 lakh assistance under this programme during 2007-2017. Moreover he has been also given Rs 16.50 lakh Khel Pratibha Puraskar.

Under the Shaktidoot programme, the State government grants Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 25 lakh assistance to player as per his/her needs for coaching within or outside India. Since 2007, 777 players are given Rs 15.57 crore assistance in the State under this programme.

DeshGujarat