HI-SAI in collision course
22 Aug 2014 5:11 AM IST
A war of words has broken out on between Hockey India and Sports Authority of India regarding the cancellation of junior women hockey team’s national camp with the SAI accusing HI of overshooting the allocated budget.
The government did not clear the national junior women’s hockey camp that was slated to start in Bhopal on Tuesday and SAI blamed HI for the cancellation. ‘Hockey India was allocated a budget of Rs 10.50 crore for its Annual Calendar of Training and Competitions for 2014-2015. Hockey India was required to determine its priorities for competitions and training within this budget,’ the SAI said in a statement, adding: ‘Any additional funding for its additional requirements depends on various factors including availability of funds under the relevant scheme.
Hockey India is also reported to have substantial funds of its own, raised from various sources. It is expected these funds would also be used to meet the expenditure towards training of athletes. It is not mandatory for the Government to finance every activity proposed by the National Sports Federations. All National Sports Federations including Hockey India are required to mobilise additional resources to fund their various activities.’ SAI’s reaction came after HI secretary general Narinder Batra on Tuesday filed an RTI against sports secretary Ajit Sharan and SAI director general Jiji Thomson for not clearing the camp.
SAI also stated it has already released Rs 11.27 crore during 2014-15 for various activities relating to Hockey India as against the allocated budget of Rs 10.50. Batra responded by saying that SAI was welcome to inspect HI’s balance sheet. Batra slammed SAI for the comment that HI also has to pump in funds for the development of the game. ‘We gave a proposed budget of Rs 42 crores for the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) of 2014-15. But SAI only allocated Rs 10.50 crores.
To add to it SAI only gives 75 per cent of that amount while the rest 25 per cent are borne by us. My balance sheet is clear. Our source of income from sponsorships are other things is just Rs 12 crore. And we end up spending more than that,’ Batra said.
The government did not clear the national junior women’s hockey camp that was slated to start in Bhopal on Tuesday and SAI blamed HI for the cancellation. ‘Hockey India was allocated a budget of Rs 10.50 crore for its Annual Calendar of Training and Competitions for 2014-2015. Hockey India was required to determine its priorities for competitions and training within this budget,’ the SAI said in a statement, adding: ‘Any additional funding for its additional requirements depends on various factors including availability of funds under the relevant scheme.
Hockey India is also reported to have substantial funds of its own, raised from various sources. It is expected these funds would also be used to meet the expenditure towards training of athletes. It is not mandatory for the Government to finance every activity proposed by the National Sports Federations. All National Sports Federations including Hockey India are required to mobilise additional resources to fund their various activities.’ SAI’s reaction came after HI secretary general Narinder Batra on Tuesday filed an RTI against sports secretary Ajit Sharan and SAI director general Jiji Thomson for not clearing the camp.
SAI also stated it has already released Rs 11.27 crore during 2014-15 for various activities relating to Hockey India as against the allocated budget of Rs 10.50. Batra responded by saying that SAI was welcome to inspect HI’s balance sheet. Batra slammed SAI for the comment that HI also has to pump in funds for the development of the game. ‘We gave a proposed budget of Rs 42 crores for the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) of 2014-15. But SAI only allocated Rs 10.50 crores.
To add to it SAI only gives 75 per cent of that amount while the rest 25 per cent are borne by us. My balance sheet is clear. Our source of income from sponsorships are other things is just Rs 12 crore. And we end up spending more than that,’ Batra said.
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