State Bank of India donates Rs.1 lakh to One Thousand Hockey Legs
On the eve of Bank’s Day, India’s premier financial institution, State Bank of India, donated Rs.1 lakh (about USD 1600) to the One Thousand Hockey Legs.
One thousand Hockey Legs is a project of Delhi Based Not-for-Profit Organization, Hockey Citizen Group, which seeks to introduce at least 500 school kids to the game of hockey each year.
Manjit Dua, 58, Arjuna Award winner in Table Tennis, who is also an officer with the State Bank of India, presented the cheque on Tuesday to K. Arumugam, founder and CEO of Hockey Citizen Group, in his chamber.
A day earlier, he received the cheque from top SBI official in a banquet where he too was honoured for his contribution to the sports.
“We observed with keen interest One Thousand Hockey Legs Project. Its amazing, and it is vibrant. To see so many urban poor kids benefit through our national game of hockey is indeed heartwarming”, said Manjit Dua.
“I personally appreciate its founder K. Arumugam, who gave a lucrative government job and is working at grassroot level” he added.
“State Bank of India is committed to social causes. We undertake many welfare schemes that benefit marginalized and needy sections of our society. We see in sports a healthy nation. We are happy to help Hockey Citizen Group which is really working among urban but poor kids over the years”, RK Sharma, Public Relations Officer with SBI, said.
“I wish your organization gets many more such gestures”, said visibly elated Norris Pritam, senior journalist, who helped highlight One Thousand Hockey Legs work with the concerned authorities.
On his part, K.Arumugam thanked KK Sharma, Manjit Dua and Norris Pritam, profusely.
“I am happy such a big corporate entity as SBI has recognized my work, and came forward to financially assist. This is a welcome motivation”.
“We recently took seven schools in Delhi alone, adding to the already existing twelve. This entailed huge expenses, were struggling to meet some of the genuine demands of kids, who are new to the game and are eager to improvise. Though we could provide sticks, jerseys, shoes and socks, we could not offer shinguard to everybody. Now am relieved thanks to SBI”, said Arumugam.
Arumugam thanked all the volunteers especially Shashank Gupta, who saw to it the NGO possesses all legal documents.
‘”It is due to Shahshank’s constant advice, assistance and persistence that we could get the accounts audited each year, and by virtue being so, could get 80G and 12 A certificates from Income Tax Department”.
These legal documents were needed, and vetted by SBI before releasing the donation.
About One Thousand Hockey Legs
Vision:
Give each child of the country an opportunity to play Hockey and learn about it.
Mission:
Developing sustained passion for Hockey by introduction of Hockey to pre and early teenaged children and simultaneously promoting playing sport as a culture and tradition, thereby contributing to develop a sports loving society.
Objectives:
Make Hockey a popular recreational activity and a social sport that is enjoyable to all groups.
Involve all Indian Hockey lovers around the globe in our efforts.
Adopt both conventional and non-conventional means to propagate the sport.
Mentor exceptional talent for the state and national team.
Develop relationship with Government and Federations in carrying out activities to further the cause of Hockey.
Activity Planning:
Initiate 500 school (or other educational institution) children, in the age group 11-14years, to Hockey, by the end of each year.
Conduct an annual Hockey quiz in each associated city.
Conduct an annual intra city Hockey tournament in each associated city.
Organizing Annual Hockey Run in one city.
Track the development of the programme on a weekly basis in each school.