Don’t go by bureacratic deadlines

It is widely reported that the hockey Selection Committee will be convened in Delhi on 31st as a part of process of selecting chief coach and staff for managing senior national team.

It was reliably learnt that the chief coach issue was almost settled five days ago but was not made public because the meeting convened by the Sports Authority of India was postponed.

Now also the meeting of the selection committee was so timed as to attend a SAI meeting on that day or a day after.

In both instances, it is the SAI’s deadline that is acting foremost in the minds of the policy makers, whoever they are.

While stating that the issue of coach needs to be settled as quick as possible, it should also be borne in mind the issue is vital and needs careful handling.

If the adhoc committee is convinced that it had had enough disucssion on the matter and consulted all prospective candidates, and has evolved a consensus then it is ok to go ahead.

But as of now, except a quote here and there in the media, nothing has been said officially by the concerned adminos. It doesn’t seem any procedure was set forth, or being followed which can mean the job is being done transparently.

It is expected that the adhoc committee should not be guided by the deadlines set by the bureaucrats in the SAI, but it should considers its own situation, taking in to account initiation and completion of some process.

This process might even take month, it should be ok for the committee after all it would give a sense of respectability to the the job they are in.

If one fine morning a newspaper is going to find out who is the new chief coach, again quoting a government source, this is exactly for what we have been fighting against the previous regime.

The public at large expect better administrative acumen from this new set up and there is no reason why can’t we be hopeful.