No silver, yet Rs 4 cr and plot? Vinesh benefit stirs debate
The Haryana Government under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has recently approved, in principle, a cash award of Rs 4 crore and an HSVP (Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran) plot for international wrestler and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat. While the gesture is in recognition of her contribution to sports and her powerful activism off the mat, it has also sparked a debate on the ethics of her demand.
Vinesh, a three-time Olympian and one of India’s most celebrated women wrestlers, had earlier been promised benefits meant for Olympic silver medallists by CM Saini. This announcement came in August 2024, following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics for exceeding the 50-kg weight limit by just 100 grams. Despite not winning a medal, the Chief Minister had lauded her as ‘Haryana ki Beti’ and a national icon, amid heightened political competition with the Opposition ahead of the state Assembly elections.
However, what was meant to be a goodwill gesture has since stirred controversy. Under Haryana’s sports policy, an Olympic silver medallist can choose only one of the following three incentives: a substantial cash award, a Group A government job, or a residential plot. Vinesh, bypassing the rules, has demanded both Rs 4-crore cash prize and a government-allotted plot, reportedly without opting for the government job.
Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam confirmed that while the Cabinet had initially approved the Olympic-grade benefits as a special case, Vinesh expressed her desire for both the cash and the land. “We had offered her to choose from the three. She has asked for both cash and plot. The file has been moved accordingly and is awaiting CM’s approval,” Gautam said.
Critics are now questioning whether Vinesh’s request goes against the spirit of the policy, especially since she did not win an Olympic medal in 2024. However, her defenders argue that Vinesh’s contributions go far beyond athletic performance. She played a central role in exposing sexual harassment within Indian wrestling, bravely taking on the powerful former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Her activism turned the spotlight on the plight of women wrestlers, and made her a household name.
Her popularity translated into politics, as Vinesh joined the Congress alongside Bajrang Punia, her brother-in-law and fellow wrestler. She was received at the Delhi airport by Congress MP Deepender Hooda and later fielded as the party’s candidate from Julana in Jind district. Her entry into the political arena was closely tied to her activism, which the Congress leveraged to criticise the BJP-led government.
During the recent budget session of the Haryana Assembly, Vinesh reminded the House of the government’s unfulfilled promise. “It is not about the money; it’s about respect,” she said. The government responded quickly, but the dual benefit request has drawn scrutiny.
Interestingly, BJP leaders have used the opportunity to contrast the current government’s generosity with the past. They point out how Vinesh’s cousins — Geeta and Babita Phogat — had to approach the courts during the previous regime to claim their dues.
Meanwhile, Vinesh has stated her intention to use the cash prize to set up a world-class sports academy. It remains to be seen whether the HSVP plot too will be directed towards public service. As someone looked up to by millions of young girls in Haryana and across India, Vinesh’s next steps will be watched closely.
Haryana Tribune