Bhubaneswar: Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Limited will be conferred with the ‘Encouragement to Sports through Corporate Social Responsibility’ award at the prestigious Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for the year 2023. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the award today, and the presentation ceremony is scheduled to take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 9, 2024.
The ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’ recognizes the significant contributions of corporate entities, sports control boards, NGOs, and sports bodies at the state and national levels in the promotion and development of sports. The award underscores OMC’s commitment to fostering sports through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
The selection process involved online applications, allowing sportspersons, coaches, and entities to self-apply through a dedicated online portal. The applications underwent a meticulous evaluation by the Selection Committee led by Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary (Sports), Government of India. The committee comprised members from previous awardees, industry associations, sports journalists, experts, commentators, Secretaries (Sports) of State Governments, Indian Olympic Association, and active non-governmental organizations in the sports sector.
India’s National Sports Awards include six core categories, namely the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Khel Ratna), Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Major Dhyan Chand Award, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA Trophy), and the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. The awards play a pivotal role in recognizing and encouraging excellence in sports across the nation.