Punch and Counter Punch

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Sports federations in India have always hidden behind the garb of autonomy. But now the honeymoon seems to be over as the Sports Ministry is threatening to effect a clean-up.

The National Sports federations (NSFs)have brought this upon themselves. For decades they have lived a life of thou shall touch me not. Accountability is nonexistent. Having said that I do not agree with the Sports Ministry's bullying tactics.

The ministry it seems is not aware of the clout of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and its members. When a confrontation arises the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is bound to back its brethren. And I was not surprised when within days of the ministry's announcement the IOA pulled the rabbit out of the hat, a letter in its support from the IOC.

The IOA had done exactly the same when then Sports Minister Mani Shanker Aiyer had attempted to introduce a new sports policy.

What happened to that excellent document is not known.

What exactly is Sports Minister MS Gill trying to prove is difficult to fathom. Till now all he has done is make tall claims as to how he has singlehandedly cleaned up the system.

His ministry moves slow on almost applications, it takes a sportsperson years to get prize money for winning International competitions. Majority of the foreign coaches are not paid on time.

But those matters, crucial ones for a ministry aren't high on the agenda. After all Gill is a bureaucrat turned politician turned minister.

If he wanted to make sure everyone fell in line and didn't complain, Gill should simply have ensured that all errant federations meet the criteria for recognition.

That had been introduced towards the end of last year and NSFs were required to furnish all details from spending to calendars to election details. Those who didn't comply were threatened with derecognition.

One such letter was sent to the Athletics federation which has in its ranks Suresh Kalmadi, also President of the IOA. Since majority of the NSFs depend on the Government for grants, they had no option to fall in line.

So all Gill now had to do was be vigilant and ensure transparency.

That's why I am still trying to understand the motives behind this latest salvo. The IOA and the Badminton federation have indicated that they do not need any more grants and will manage their own affairs.

So why should the government tell them what to do and what not to do?

Yes some people have been occupying the posts for a long time.

But some of them are producing results. For all its faults, the NRAI has been producing medalists galore. Rowing has been winning a bagful of medals in the Asian level. India's boxers are on the podium of every major completion these days. Doesn't that show that something somewhere is right. I completely agree that there are rotten apples everywhere. Throw them out. But don't take out the entire lot as that will bring the system crashing down. And it's after a long time that we are actually producing good results.

There are many politicians there but I know for a fact that many of them raise their own money as what they get from the Government is a pittance. It's a misnomer that NSF's make pots of money from Govt grants.

All coaching camps are run by the Sports Authority of India. The NSFs get Rs 5 Lakh to conduct a national and Rs 2 lakh for a sub junior national.

All expenses for the national team are borne by Govt yes, but in the Govt's own facilities.

The ministry has been harping on the IOC having a fixed tenure for its office bearers and members. But that was not imposed on it by an external agency. It was decided by the IOC itself. So it is up to the IOA and its constituents to decide what suits them best.

The example of KPS Gill is there for everyone to see. He ruled hockey with an iron fist. But when India did not qualify for the Olympics the IOA got together and booted him out.

The government cannot tell the Sports federations what rule to follow. That is infringement of the Olympic charter and will not be tolerated by the IOC.

Look at the BCCI, it does not take a rupee from the Government. And the Government cannot tell it what to do. So if the IOA and a few are finally charting their own course why still threaten them.

This is the ministry's letter to all federations. Isn't it a veiled threat?

"Compliance to the above-mentioned directions shall be mandatory to receive government recognition and thereby to become eligible to receive financial as well as other forms of assistance from Government of India such as railway concession, income tax exemption, custom duty exemption, etc. and to derive the authority to perform the public functions of selecting and deputing the national teams for participation in recognized continental and world level international sports competitions which involve representation of member countries, and to represent the country in international associations, events, meets, conferences, etc."

My advice to the ministry is don't get confrontational. Sit with the IOA and figure out ways of ensuring that those who are a producing results continue doing so. And forget about the retirement age. As Narendra Batra said, if that was a criteria then Gill should go first.

This is sport, not a government job.