Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 3
The Punjab Sports Department has asked players, who were recently given Rs3,000 (each) of kit money, to purchase kits from three designated vendors immediately. The kit includes one track-suit and two pairs of shoes.
The players alleged that they were being forced to purchase kits in anticipation of attending Punjab Chief Minister’s rally. However, officials maintained, the department was ensuring a smooth process to help eligible players to get kits.
The players, who have been approached through coaches, have been asked to submit cheques for Rs3,000 in favour of either of three vendors, namely Ess Kay Sports Industries, Ess Kay Sports and Santosh Sports Industries.
“There’s nothing like that (players to attend the CM’s rally). The players were awarded money through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for purchasing kits. If the money is designated to purchase kits, it should be used for that purpose only. We are just ensuring a smooth process,” said Parminder Pal Singh Sandhu, Director, Sports Department (Punjab).
“The process to buy kits through headquarters and distribute it to players is very tedious and time consuming. There are more than 8,000 beneficiaries covered under this scheme and we have been ensuring a smooth process to give them the kits. Why would we ask them to attend any rally?” he asked.
The players, meanwhile, alleged that the department was covering up for the blunder and benefitting the vendors directly. “How is it possible to get a good quality track-suit and two pairs of shoes for just Rs3,000? If the department had made DBT to players, they should let them use the amount as per their wish. The process clearly indicates a prior planning between the vendors and the authorities, while the players were kept in the dark,” said a player, seeking anonymity. “The department has done an appreciable job by sending money directly to all beneficiaries. However, they should not interfere in its usage. Different disciplines have different requirements and players can use the amount accordingly. This is turning out to be a problem for coaches, parents and the department itself,” said a parent.
No orders in writing
Notably, there are no orders in writing asking players to submit cheques and the coaches are pursuing players verbally. “We have been asking players to submit cheques. Some parents understand, while the others ask for official orders. Since we don’t have any orders in writing, we end up facing the parents’ fury. If the department had these plans, it should be put under official orders. An undertaking should have been taken from parents or players, so that they buy the kits directly from the vendors. Our views were nowhere in the policy making, but we are ones facing problems,” said a senior coach.
