By Staff Reporter

The hierarchy of sports associations, directorate and Sports Council is a mixed bag filled with confusion and perplexity in these Islands. Till 2005, sports, arts and culture were part of Directorate of Education. It was separated in 2005-06 and the budget transferred to the newly formed directorate - Directorate of Sports, Arts and Culture.

From the beginning, the Islands did not have any sports policy. The Centre had sought the territory to form State Sports Council to develop sports here. With the Deputy Commissioner as the Chairman, and the Director of Education and Director of Sports, Arts and Culture as ex-officio members with a few sportspersons as members, it still remains the decisive body, which manages sports in the islands.

Although, it is against the Olympic charter, in the absence of sports association, it took root and the people remained in darkness about the actual channel of sports.

With the advent of SAI, in the capacity of special area games scheme, it took up canoe/kayak and rowing for training selected candidates from the Islands. For participation in various national championships, it had to form associations affiliated with national federations. And the directorate of education took the step to form associations for these special games and most of the office bearers were government officials, in contrary to association culture.

No other sports were properly promoted in the Islands. Whatever sports used to take place, it remained confined in the Islands. Only canoeing/kayaking and rowing were represented nationally and internationally, which brought laurels to the officials. The sportspersons were again neglected.

Although football was a popular sport in the Islands, it remained landlocked in the Islands. The fourth association was formed by MR Bhakta, MP on the insistence of Priyaranjan Das Munshi, who required a vote to keep his presidentship of national football federation intact. But, the sport remained here without national participation.

Breaking the monotony, in 90s some educated youth interested in sports, who knew the association culture started forming associations for various sports and also getting affiliations from national federations. It helped them to send sportspersons in various popular sports to national championships. The trend increased during this decade.

They had formed enough associations to form Andaman Olympic Association and also got it affiliated with Indian Olympic Association. G Bahskar is the President of Andaman Olympic Association.

This irked the department officials, who saw the hegemony slipping away from their hands.

The sports scene in the Islands is now wide split into two groups. Associations formed by the Directorate and Associations formed by private individuals as per Olympic Charter.

As the control still lies with the State Sports Council, the associations formed by the private individuals were harassed in various forms. They are not given the grant in time and the persons, working in various departments, associated with these associations are denied opportunity to participate in national championships. Their leave is not sanctioned on time on different pretext.

Although, the directorate officials understand the consequences of going against association culture and in principle agree to support them, in practice, they create hindrances which have forced the associations to go vocal against the department.

There were instances when, four officials from three departments belonging to these associations had to accompany the participating team of volleyball, police department relieved their staff on duty and also provided TA/DA as per FRSR, but Directorate of Education issued an order to bear the expenses by the association.

In Feb 2008, National Cross Country Championships were held in Goa. The State Association had to send two Physical Education teachers associated with the sport as officials. But, the Directorate of Education denied them permission on some frivolous grounds and the team could not participate. The communication from the association was also not acknowledged or a formal reply sent, which shows the step-motherly treatment meted out to them by the administration.

And whenever the staff of the four associations, formed by the directorate is sent, they are given grant-in-aid in advance and they are also given the option to fly whereas others have to go by ship.

The associations complain that the grant-in-aid, which is now provided by the State Sports Council, is not enough to conduct games at entry level. At present, they are given just 30%, 50% and 75% at block, district and state level. They have to bear the balance. It has put them in a tight corner.

What they expect is 100% funding by the directorate and not State Sports Council, which is an illegitimate body as per Olympic Charter. Even Dr UN Chowdary AD, Sports agrees and says that the association should be given grant-in-aid in advance based on their calendar of events.

Dr Chowdary is very vocal about reconstitution of State Sports Council with representation from all associations and that it should only act as an advisory body.