Karnataka athletes await final order on 2% government job quota

Former Karnataka kabaddi captain Gagan Gowda, 23, says he has waited three years for a government job route that is still not open to sportspersons.

Karnataka’s announced 2% reservation for athletes has yet to be included in employment notifications across government departments. Officials from state sports associations said the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) submitted the required documents to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) nearly two months ago, but is awaiting the final government order.

Recruitment notices for physical education teachers, assistant masters and primary and high school teachers have been issued in the meantime. They list reservations for groups including ex-servicemen, persons with disabilities, women, Kannada-medium candidates and transgender persons, but not sportspersons.

Gowda said he could become ineligible for several jobs, including in the Railways, within two years. Former Karnataka football captain Karthik Govind Swamy said he moved to Hyderabad for work after waiting for a government job; he said at least seven members of Karnataka’s Santosh Trophy-winning side remain unemployed.

DYES officials said their department had completed its part of the process. Athletes are now waiting for DPAR’s order before they can apply under the quota.