Bihar Players’ Association members take out a march on Frazer Road in Patna on Monday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Feb. 13: More than 50 sportspersons took out a march today in protest against the delay on behalf of the government in providing jobs to players who represented Bihar in national- and state-level tournaments.

Under the banner of Bihar Players’ Association, they took out the march from Youth Hostel to the chief minister’s secretariat via Frazer Road, seeking immediate appointment of sportspersons in government jobs as promised by the Nitish Kumar-led government.

Mritunjay Tiwari, the Bihar Players’ Association president, claimed that the state government had, in an effort to promote sporting activities in the state in 2009-10, decided to provide government jobs to sportspersons excelling in national and state-level tournaments. He said: “On April 30, 2011, the government listed names of 94 players and pledged that they would get government jobs. Of them, 53 players were recruited in the secretariat and offices of district magistrates. But 41 players are still awaiting employment. Further delay could pose problems for them as the government will prepare a fresh list of player appointees this April.”

Punam Kumari, a squash player who represented the state in various tournaments, said: “When we approach the sports department, the officials give excuses that all paper work have been completed and appointments will be done from the secretariat-level.”

The association later submitted a memorandum to a senior official at the chief minister’s secretariat.