Submit break-up of funds allotted to sports over 3 years: HC to state

A PIL filed in the Bombay High Court has sought directions to the Union Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to formulate a scheme for promotion of sports other than cricket.

The PIL filed by Association of Aiding Justice (AAJ) stated that even hockey, the national sport of India, has “lost its charm” with the government doing precious little to promote other sports. “Other sportspersons are not doing better despite having immense talent because basic facilities are not provided to them,” the PIL states. It mentions that with Indians excelling in various sports in the Olympics, promotion of other sports will help the government discover untapped talent that can “do wonders at an international level” .

“India wakes and sleeps with cricket. When the cricket team won the T20 World Cup, the government gave them Rs 21 lakh, but the hockey team was not even given appropriate funds when it went for the 7th Asian Hockey World Cup,” Dipesh Siroya, advocate for AAJ argued.

The PIL states that it was rather unfortunate that hockey players were not given salaries and payments on time, demotivating them from pursuing the sport. “Other sportspersons are not doing better because of lack of facilities,” the PIL states.

The PIL urges the court to direct the government to appoint a committee to monitor the policy framed to promote and recognise other sports.

Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice D G Karnik have asked the government to submit a break-up of funds allotted to different sports by the ministry over the past three years and to file an affidavit in three weeks.