After Six-Year Wait, Wrestler Geeta Phogat Finally Appointed DSP

Geeta became the first Indian woman to win a gold in the 55 kg freestyle category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

With the release of the much-awaited Dangal trailer comes the good news of Indian wrestler Geeta Phogat finally being appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police by the Haryana cabinet after a six-year long wait.

Just a month ago, the Indian wrestler had spoken to The Quint about not receiving rewards, including a Rs 40-50 lakh cash reward, that she and her sisters had been promised by the Haryana government in the last four to five years.

Geeta had been waiting for this appointment ever since she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the 55 kg freestyle category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Disappointed, she had to wait so long, a rather unimpressed Geeta told The Indian Express:

Hamein aadat ho gayi thi wait karne ki. Sab khush hain par jitni khushi honi chahiye thi, utni nahin hai (We got used to waiting. Everyone is happy but we are not as happy as we should have been.) While other players were appointed (as DSP) on winning gold in the same event, we were denied this for six long years.

Phogat, who had been selected for appointment as Inspector in Haryana Police after qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics, had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court in March after the government failed to promote her to a post on par with her achievements.

The HC had then asked the Haryana government to hear her petition within two months.

A player puts all her efforts in winning medals and a decision like this means financial security for us. I wish such things do not happen to other gold medal winners in future CWG or Asian Games.

Geeta Phogat

The Cabinet also approved the proposal to appoint mountaineer Ram Lal Sharma a Sub-Inspector under the sports quota.

While the HC had directed the Haryana government to appoint him DSP, the mountaineer who climbed the Mt Everest in 2013 was “happy that I have been at least given a post of sub-inspector”.

Ram Lal Sharma told The Indian Express:

It was a tough wait for me. My father runs a vegetable cart and suffers from back problems. I had to run the cart to support the family. Mamata Sodha was offered the appointment in 2010 for the same achievement as mine. I approached the High Court in February this year. Earlier this May, the court directed the Haryana government to appoint me DSP and also give me a cash reward of Rs 21 lakh in three months . I am happy that I have been at least given a post of sub-inspector.

Hockey player Mamta Kharab was the first player to be appointed as DSP under the Haryana government’s 2005 policy that provided out-of-turn appointments to players with sports achievements.

(With inputs from IANS and The Indian Express.)