Women hockey players reject Rs 50, 000 by Hockey India, want gradation system

NEW DELHI/BHOPAL: Barely a week after the strike by the men’s team was resolved, another revolt is brewing in Indian hockey with the women’s team rejecting the incentives promised to them and demanded a treatment similar to one offered to their male counterparts. ( Watch Video )

Hockey India decided to immediately reward Rs 50,000 to each player in the ongoing national camp in Bhopal after the eves resorted to a silent protest against the non-payment of their dues by wearing black armbands during the training session.

But former national captain Mamta Kharb said they were not happy with the “step-motherly” treatment meted out to them by the national federation as their pending financial dues amounts to more than Rs three lakh per player.

“We are not satisfied with what has been promised to us, so we will not accept the money offered by Hockey India. We want equal to what the men’s team have been promised,” Kharb said from Bhopal.

“We have written to Hockey India listing our demands and conveyed to them that we will not accept the Rs 50,000 amount offered to each player.

“Our pending incentives amounts to Rs 3 lakh per player and we want that money,” she added.

Kharb also said that her colleagues want a gradation system just like the one promised to the men’s team in order to secure the future of the women players, who come from a relatively poor background.

We also want a gradation system to be put in place. For years now, there is no salary or match fee for players in women’s hockey. We even don’t get daily allowance during camps. So, we want all these to be put in place ortherwise in future no parents will encourage their daughter to play hockey,” Kharb said.

She, however, made it clear that they won’t resort to any pressure tactics by going on strike unlike their male counterparts and would carry on practice under protest.

“We won’t stop training come what may. But we are hopeful that Hockey India will consider our justified demands and solve our problem as soon as possible. We also don’t like to do all these things but we were compelled to take the step keeping in mind our future,” Kharab said.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, HI interim president Vidya Stokes earlier in the day told reporters that the national body has decided to give away an immediate reward of Rs 50,000 each to all the 19 national campers in Bhopal.

She also said that apart from the RS 50,000, HI has requested the government to give each player Rs one lakh for their silver medal winning performance in last year’s Asia Cup in Bangkok.

“We have requested the Sports Ministry to give each player Rs one lakh as reward for their silver medal in Asia Cup,” Stokes said.

“But as of now, we (HI) are immediately giving Rs 50,000 each all the 19 players of the camp for their outstanding performance last year,” she added.

But Kharb said the eves already owe Rs one lakh from the government for the silver medal in Asia Cup and the amount was not at all part of their demand.

“The government has given us Rs 1.5 lakh for winning gold in 2007 Asia Cup in Hong Kong. And as per rule, the government is supposed to give us Rs 1 lakh each for winning silver in last year’s Asia Cup. So these money is our right, but we are grateful to Hockey India for their request,” she said.

Kharb also dismissed Stokes claim that she had spoken to the captain and coach of the women’s team and they were happy with the immediate incentive offered to them.

“She (Stokes) didn’t speak to me. But yes she spoke to Surinder Kaur but we clearly said to her that we were not satisfied with the amount,” she said.

Upset over the attitude of HI towards them, the women’s team has also opened a savings account in the Bhopal branch of Syndicate Bank and has requested hockey asked fans all over the country to support their cause.

The present situation in Indian hockey came to light barely a week after the crisis surrounding the men’s team was resolved with the Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi brokering a peace deal between the striking players and Hockey India.