Women hockey players harden stand against Hockey India

V Narayan Swamy & Biswajyoti Brahma

BANGALORE/NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s hockey team hardened its stand against the establishment, sending a terse message that it would not withdraw the protest unless it got a written assurance from Hockey India that its demands would be met.

This despite more than Rs 2 crore being pledged from different quarters. The girls told HI president Vidya Stokes that they needed the approval of their demands – written contracts, monthly salaries, match fees, daily allowances amongst others – to be attested on a federation letterhead so that it becomes the players’ bargaining chip for the future.

Apparently, a press release from Stokes acceding to the players’ demands on contract and parity with men, did not help either.

“We will not go by verbal assurances,” goalkeeper Dipika Murty told TOI. “Stokes asked us to accept the Rs 50,000 now and said our demands would be fulfilled after the elections. But we told her that such promises have stopped making an impact on us.”

In the telephone conversation with Stokes, the girls apparently called the shots, seeking a well-etched plan for the future.

Even a phone call from sports minister MS Gill did not help in mending matters. Gill, in fact, had good news to offer – about a donation of Rs 1 crore from Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Chouhan and Rs 10 lakh from Assocham Commonwealth Games chairman Vinay Rai. But the girls stood resolute: they were not fighting for incentives alone. They wanted to secure the future of women’s hockey. Gill, who spoke to Dipika to assure her, told TOI: “We will pay them some money from the Rs 1.1 crore that will come to us. But the amount cannot be disclosed now. Our officials will look into that.”

“The ministry does not have a scheme of incentives or match fees. It’s the job of Hockey India to give incentives. We are here to ensure that our sportspersons get the best of infrastructure, nutrition, coaching and exposure tours. Yes, the government has an awards scheme in place whereby cash is given for medals in Olympics, Asian Games etc.”

Meanwhile, the contributions from the public swelled from Rs 26,375 to Rs 66,000. Chakde India writer Jaideep Sahni and the director of a group of colleges in Gwalior have promised the players Rs 1 lakh each, it has been learnt.