Women at loss in Jharkhand, knock the doors of all concerned

What happened in Jharkhand is what has been going on in the rest of India — vested interest are usurping posts in hockey in undemocratic way.

An influential police officer who was advisor to Governor of Jharkhand, became the president of the so called ‘unified body’ of the state. Women are crying slighted and sidelined.

T. P. Sinha being the then advisor to Governor and also the in charge of sports managed to get himself ‘elected’ as the president of Jharkhand Hockey without ever calling a meeting of both men and women federation.

However out of the blue, Hockey India seemed to have given affiliation to Sinha group, and the women came to know this only through newspapers. As per the office bearers, two women are put without taking their consent!

Jharkhand Women Hockey Association therefore seek to get either president or secretary of the new body with a voting right. The posts indicated in the ‘affiliated body’ are ornamental ones, which does not bestow upon them any right to vote.

Interestingly, T. P. Sinha, IPS (Retd) who is somehow nominated himself as President Hockey Jharkhand is not even a resident of the state. Since a popular government has been installed in Jharkhand State with Shibu Soren as the Chief Minister, the post of advisor to Governor is terminated.

Shri T. P.Sinha, is reportedly has now settled in Patna, Bihar but will continue to be the president of Jharkhand Hockey!!

The Jharkhand women issue is hurting true followers of the game because this province produces more women international players than any other in India. And, the women association was run smoothly till now, with a school principal at the helm of affairs and former international player Savitri Purti as the Secretary.

Certainly, the equality the FIH envisaged in the merger of men and women unit is misfiring, there is no doubt about it.

The slighted and sidelined JWHA is now knocking the doors of all concerned, election observer Mendirata to MS Gill, and also the ‘all powerful Mattoo’.