Kohima, March 14: The Nagaland government has decided to review the existing provision for five per cent job reservation under the sports quota in the state.

Speaking at an awards ceremony at the state Banquet Hall on Tuesday, chief minister Neiphiu Rio lauded the performance of Naga sportspersons in the 33rd National Games and said his government was committed to providing jobs to the players.

“You are aware that our government had announced 2004 and 2005 as years of youth empowerment. Under this initiative, sports was given special priority,” Rio said.

Rio, who is also president of the Nagaland Olympic Association, announced cash incentives for Games medallists with a bonus over and above the sum committed under the sports policy, as this was the first time the state sent a contingent to the event. The medal winners received Rs 1 lakh each for gold, Rs 70,000 for silver and Rs 35,000 for bronze.

“We are also pleased to give away cash incentives to medal winners of the recent North East Sports Festival in Sikkim,” Rio said. Though cash awards are not usually given to sportspersons who excel at the festival, an exception was made this time to motivate players to strive harder.

Rio said the state boxing association and the sports department would begin talent-spotting from April for the sub-junior national boxing meet to be hosted by Nagaland later this year. A similar talent hunt would also be conducted for middle and long-distance runners in collaboration with the Nagaland Athletics Association, he said.

“The selected youngsters will be sent to special coaching camps to groom them to their best by 2010, when India will host the Commonwealth Games,” Rio said.

He suggested an annual awards function to give away incentives and citations to deserving sportspersons of the state.