They are Indian athletes: Welfare body questions SAI costs

Across India, sports complexes are plastered with slogans promoting the government’s grassroot schemes like the Khelo India, Fit India, among others, creating an impression that Indian sport is entering a golden era.

Even the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) preamble reads that it “operates several promotional schemes to scout, nurture, and train talented athletes across the country. These core schemes range from grassroots talent identification and school-level participation to elite-level training for national and international competitions.”

But on the ground, reality paints a different picture, miles away from all the sloganeering.

A case in point is the Sports Authority of India’s premier High Altitude Training Centre in Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 2010, the Shilaroo center is spread across 78 acres and built at an altitude of 8,000 feet. The facility charges Rs 5,000 per day for use of the track and gym.

For the Mohali-based Cerebral Palsy Sports Society of Punjab, raising that amount for three weeks of training of 15 athletes coming from underprivileged backgrounds is a tough ask.

The society’s volunteers are currently running from pillar to post to arrange funds so that some of their athletes including some specially-abled athletes can train at Shilaroo.

Ajit Singh, a former SAI coach and society’s general secretary, wrote to SAI’s Executive Director on April 13, requesting accommodation for a three-week training camp. He was not seeking free access. Yet, the quoted costs have made the plan extremely difficult to execute.

Apart from the Rs 5,000 daily charge for the track and gym, board and lodging costs include Rs 800 per athlete per day and Rs 1,000 per coach, taking the total expense for 15 athletes and two coaches to over Rs 5 lakh.

“Rs 5000 per day only for track and gym is too much. It is difficult to afford. We have athletes coming from poor families, some are even disabled. They cannot bear these charges. The food and stay is okay. But the cost of the track is too expensive,” Ajit Singh told The Bridge on Monday.

“The stadiums are made from public money. Ye athlete bhi hindustan ke he hain (These athletes are Indians). These charges should not be there,” he said.

That may not be a major amount for a corporate-backed programme, but for a welfare body like the Cerebral Palsy Sports Society, registered under Punjab’s Societies Act of 1860, it is a daunting challenge.

In order to provide the athletes with the high-altitude training, Ajit incorporated former international and Asian Games medallist Harkamaljit in this endeavour.

Harkamaljit was part of the 1978 Asian Games silver winning 4x400 metre relay that included Muralikuttan, Udey Prabhu and the legendary Sriram Singh.

The writer is a guest columnist for The Bridge.