Will try to accommodate Govinda troop members in govt service: Maharashtra CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said his government will try to give jobs to Govinda troop members in government serviceGovinda troops traditionally form multitiered human pyramids during the DahiHandi Janmashtami festivalSpeaking after the inauguration of the first ProGovinda League 2023 Eknath Shinde also announced that actor Abhishek Bachchan would be its brand ambassadorThe Dahi Handi Govinda sport has been given the status of adventure sport and now the players Govindas will be given facilities on par with those given to other sportspersons All efforts will be made for accommodating them in government service Eknath Shinde saidAround 50000 Govindas in the state have been provided with insurance cover As some Govindas were left out the government gave immediate approval to provide cover to additional 25000 players he addedEknath Shinde further said that the Dahi Handi Festival was started in Thane city by the late Anand Dighe and he was the first to celebrate this festival on a larger scaleThe Maharashtra chief minister said that all the people of the state can now celebrate the Ganeshotsav and the Navratri festivals with gaiety and enthusiasm as all the earlier restrictions are revoked and no longer in existenceThe traditional festivals in the state are necessary for further strengthening the integration unity and brotherhood Eknath Shinde saidMinister for industries Uday Samant said that it is the first time in the nation that the Govindas are insuredHe also said that the Govinda teams from other states have requested us to give insurance to their teams adding that the government will also cooperate in this regardUday Samant also announced that the ProGovinda League will be organised at the national levelMinister for sports and youth affairs Sanjay Bansode said that the chief minister has a dream to organize the Pro Govinda League and today his dream came to realityThe government will leave no stone unturned to take this sport to universal level The traditional games became popular at the world level and like IPL and ProKabaddi this competition will also help the Dahi Handi Govinda sport to gain more popularity he saidA total of 16 teams are participating in the ProGovinda League The first prize will be of Rs 11 lakh second will be of Rs 7 lakh third prize will be of Rs 5 lakh and the fourth prize will be of Rs 3 lakh Women Govinda teams and visually impaired Govinda teams will also be participating in the leagueWith inputs from PTI