Jul 15, 2004 04:19 PM
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(Updated Jul 15, 2004 04:19 PM)
Neglect of Rural Sports
The Olympic Games at Athens are round the corner. Member countries are busy coaching their respective and respectable players – with the fond hope that they would bring the famed medals to their fellow citizens. We, in India, have no news about our sportsmen who are toiling and sweating in the grounds and stadiums, which are ill equipped, without the required gadgets and facilities.
The plight of our sportsmen is painfully revealed in its worst proportions with the Union Sports minister Mr. Sunil Dutt lambasting the Sports Authority of India officials for the ghastly conditions prevailing at Nehru Stadium in Mumbai, particularly the blatant neglect of the facilities to the athletes. After all, the officials will make a wild grin behind the minister and continue with their vile strategies, helping their pockets and foreign bank accounts – with the blood and sweat of our sportsmen. If they get medals, the officials would be the first to benefit. The higher officials make whirlwind foreign jaunts to enhance the working conditions for our sportsmen. If they do not get, they will be equally busy, inventing ways for garnering more funds in the name of providing better facilities to their “victims”.
Our Indian games and sports education is badly marred by nepotism, money, caste, religion and several other narrow barriers. Yet, the real spirit of our sportsmen is never lost. A multitude of brilliant youth lay without access to the sports education and training. It is bitterly the case in rural areas. The son of a cricketer becomes a member of the national team. The son of a bureaucrat finds a red carpet welcome into the team of a hockey or any national game. Due to these factors, the track record of our nation is worst affected.
Coming from the panoramic rural India, it is my misfortune to feel pity for the children and youth, with the real zest for games and sports. Millions of schoolchildren urgently require proper uniform, food, medicines and minimum moral support. Here, there is no need to mention their disappointments. They watch cricket on the televisions, but the cricket bat is a luxury to them. They watch a football match, and a football would mean extra in their lives. The drillmasters in government schools are content with their salaries and never bothered about the sportive spirit of the students. After all, they know, if they really bother about it, they are answerable to their wives awaiting their arrivals at sharp 4.00 PM. Much of the sports goods do make magical presence at these drillmasters’ houses and become the property of their children.
If we are to see India making a stride in the Olympics (not necessarily the coming session, but our dream of hosting the games next decade), reforms should be launched in the villages. It does not mean neglect of low budgeting of the urban priorities. Let the sports authorities at the national and state levels find their way to the rural pockets. Let the government make them work sincerely for a few years. No need to spell out the answer. India will be the King of Olympics, and to that matter world sports and games.
