Vandana Katariya Gets Tilu Rauteli Award And Rs 25 Lakh From Uttarakhand CM

Vandana Katariya Gets Tilu Rauteli Award: The Chief Minister of Uttrakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami visited hockey player Vandana Katariya's home on Thursday and felicitated her.

Katariya was awarded the Tilu Rauteli award in addition to a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh for a remarkable feat at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The CM also announced that Katariya will become the face of the state's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign which aims at educating girls.

During the felicitation at Katariya's home, the CM said that she had brought laurels to the state by scoring a hat-trick in a match and creating history. He added that a sports policy is being formulated in the state so that players can get more facilities.

The relatives of Cabinet Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Yatishwaranand, Deshraj Karnwal, MLA Adesh Chauhan and Secretary Hari Chandra Semwal were also present at Katariya's house.

After coming back to Hardiwar on Wednesday, Vandana Katariya received a warm welcome from her family members and others. The main felicitation event was held at Roshnabad Sports Stadium where Katariya said that even though her team did not win a medal but they won the hearts of people.

She added that she is glad to be back in her village and thanked everyone for the support and love she received from all over the country.

After the Indian women hockey team lost in the bronze medal game against Great Britain, her family members filed a complaint against their neighbours. Some men in the locality allegedly burned firecrackers near her house and hurled casteist slurs at her family. The police later made arrests in the matter.

Vandana Katariya in her statement after the incident had said she and her teammates play for the country and casteism against them should not happen.

She said, "Hum log country ke liye khel rahe hai ..aur jo bhi kuch bhi ho raha hai, uske liye kuch bhi na kare, like ‘caste-ing baazi’ jo maine thoda sa suna tha, woh sab na ho." ( We are playing for the country and whatever is happening should not happen. Like the casteist remarks. Whatever I’ve heard about it, don’t do that.)

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