Shri Ajay Maken, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, held a meeting with office-bearers of both HI and IHF to work out an amicable solution to the long-standing feud between the two bodies over recognition and power-sharing. The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere.
Shri Maken first met the representatives of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) viz Shri RK Shetty and Shri Ashok Mathur and then those of Hockey India (HI) viz Shri Narinder Batra and the treasurer and two Vice Presidents in the presence of Sports Secretary and Joint Secretary (Sports). There after there was a joint meeting between all three for about 45 minutes.
During meeting the Government proposal was discussed and the two parties were asked to revert back with preferably a joint reply regarding the proposal by the evening of Tuesday, June 14, 2011.
After the meeting Shri Ajay Maken told the media that “We have given a balanced proposal to HI and IHF with equal importance to both the federations. We have given them time till Tuesday evening to send their response in writing. We have told them to give us a joint response instead of separate ones. I am hopeful that a settlement will be reached for a better future of Indian Hockey and in National Interest.. ”
The details of the Government Proposal are as follows :
1. The strength of the Executive Board of HI shall be raised from 17 to 33 in order to provide for co-option of 16 members of IHF comprising 1 Senior Vice President, 6 Vice-Presidents, 4 Joint Secretaries and 5 Executive Members.
2. Co-opted members from IHF shall exercise the same powers as
elected members as per their designations.
3. The expanded Executive Board of HI shall continue up to the expiry
of the current tenure, which is up to October, 2014.
4. The existing 3-member Working Committee of Hockey India, which
manages day-to-day affairs shall be enlarged to 5 in order to
accommodate additional two members from the co-opted members from the IHF.
5. Shri K.P.S. Gill shall be co-opted as Life Patron in honorary capacity
without voting rights.
6. In the event of any co-opted member resigning from Executive Board
for any reason there shall be no replacement.
7. On the expiry of the tenure of current management of HI, the size of Executive Board will revert to the original strength of 17 members as provided for in the rules and regulations of HI.
8. As soon as the expanded Executive Board comes into effect, it shall
take steps for holding elections for the post of President, which at
present vacant and operating by way of an interim arrangement, in
accordance with the constitution of HI.
9. Post settlement, HI shall assume the status of the sole National Sports
Federation for Hockey in India and maintain affiliation with the
National Olympic Committee, the Continental Federation and the
International Federation.
10. With regard to disputes prevailing in some of the State associations, a joint committee comprising 2 elected and 2 co-opted members of the Executive Board shall be constituted, which shall arbitrate / mediate / facilitate amicable settlement. The decision of the Joint Committee shall be final and binding on the disputing factions. Government shall depute an observer from its side. This exercise shall be conducted in a time-bound manner and completed within 3 months of the constitution of expended Executive Board of Hockey India.