There is plenty of money to spend at this Commonwealth Games so as to name the ongoing mela even to the extent of ‘Wealth Games’.
Since the government is all bent to make the CWG a success it has loosened its purse. Since then it is jolley good times for many.
See what happens at hockey
There is one Venue Coordinater, and Venue Manager. They are in addition to many government officials who actually responsible for civil and other works. They two are our revered former Olympians. Both Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal are paid professionals now, each getting a good salary per month, then a chaffeur driven car.
Then somehow the authorities felt there should be an imported and impartant brain to run the show. They got Dennis Meredith at the advice of the FIH. He is paid a hefty sum, believed to be in the range of Rs. 4-5 lac, a huge sum indeed. We were willing to pay and it is none of his fault.
Then there are ITOs, whose presence are must; they are International Technical Officers appointed by the FIH as per the tournament rules and regulations, who supervise and run the matches.
Then comes a new breed called NTOs.
NTOs, what?
They are National Technical Officers.
They are given full ceremonial gear, both ways air fare to Delhi and home. Boarding and lodging facilities for the whole duration of the Games. Free tickets to many venues. They are paid Rs. 1500 daily allowance.
They are around 40-50 such NTOs here with respect to hockey alone. While the ball boys have no place to sit and watch the matches (see a separate story for this), they are given royal seating.
Who are these NTOs, who pay for them?.
The Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games is picking up their bills, paying them all these perks and facilities. Then who are these NTOs, former players or those who organize tournaments at local levels?
No No. They are all those who are in the good books of Hockey India, a brain wave of Suresh Kalmadi and his friend Narinder Batra. Those who form the state units of Hockey India form the bulk of the NTOs. They are all State Hockey Association officials who belong to Hockey India faction.
These NTOs are actullay ETOs (Extra-ordinary Terresterial Objects), one can easily say.
The pity is, one way or other they subsist on our tax money.