Andhra Assembly Amends Law, Set to Name PV Sindhu Group-1 Officer

PV Sindhu in action during her women’s singles semifinal at the Rio Olympics. (Photo: AP)

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill on Tuesday that effectively paved the way to appoint badminton player PV Sindhu as a Group 1 officer in the state government.

Speaking in the Assembly, Finance and Legislative Affairs minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu introduced the bill to amend the state public services act.

The Olympic silver medallist was offered the job by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu when he was felicitating Sindu at a function in Vijayawada.

Reports suggest that she will most likely be appointed as a Deputy Collector.

Sindu has been working in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) as a deputy manager (sports) since 2013.

This move also comes two weeks after the Telangana government allotted a 1,000 square-yard plot to the badminton star.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao handed over the order of allotment of land to the two-time World Championships medallist at Pragati Bhavan, the CM’s official residence in the first week of May.

Following her Olympic medal, the Telangana government had presented her a cash reward of Rs 5 crore.

The Andhra Pradesh government had presented her Rs 3 crore in cash and had offered a 1,000 square yard plot in Amaravati, the upcoming state capital near Vijayawada.

There was also tension between the two Telugu states, when Sindhu returned from the Olympics.

Each state claimed her as their own, with Telangana politicians calling her ‘Telangana bidda’ (daughter of Telangana), while their counterparts in Andhra hailed her as ‘Andhra ammayi’ (Andhra girl).

Both Telugu states had offered her jobs, but in February, Sindhu's mother had said that she was accepting the job offered by the Andhra Pradesh government.

(This article was originally published in The News Minute)