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Summer camps of inconveniences: Basic facilities not being provided for SATG trainees
The onset of the summer holidays for school children sparks the start of the summer camps across the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It has been an age-old tradition with several private bodies and sports associations organising summer camps. The Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) too leaves no stone unturned in organising these camps to unearth and hone sporting talent in the state. The aim is noble, but the organizational skills are missing.
Many parents of the children, who are attending the summer camps, are not happy with the arrangements made at these camps. They lament the fact that basic facilities are not being provided for the children even though a fat sum of money is collected.
No drinking water at camps
While the fees is not a major issue, the parents are aghast that the officials are callous about providing basic facilities like drinking water. With the summer at its scorching best this year, not providing drinking water for the trainees is criminal. To boot, it is right under the nose of the SATG officials at the LB Stadium, in the heart of the city.
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The issue is not limited to water alone; children also lack access to necessary sports equipment. At a time when the state government has allocated a budget of Rs 500 crore to promote sports, it is pathetic that the officials are not even bothered to provide good quality sports equipment.
Fees for elite sports like cricket, tennis and skating is Rs 2000 and for badminton it is Rs 2500
Despite the hefty fees, the trainees are forced to carry water and other basic stuff with them. The parents are in no position to air their grievances as there is no redressal method. The officials are least bothered about what is happening on the ground. They are cozily confined to their air-conditioned offices and do not take time to visit the various camps and check what kind of facilities are being provided for the trainees. This callous attitude is turning the summer camps into a farce.
Not aware of any inconveniences, SATG official
When questioned about the flaws in the summer camps, Sujata, deputy director, SATG, washed her hands of the matter by saying that she was not aware of any inconveniences at the camps for the trainees. This is quite surprising as some of the camps are being conducted right under her nose at the LB Stadium.
When pressed for an answer, she demanded that any complaint should be given to her in writing. Which parent would risk the ire of the coaches and officials by giving a written complaint?
When asked why there was a shortage of funds for the camp, especially since chief minister A Revanth Reddy has not spared any effort in releasing funds for the promotion of sports, Sujatha did not provide a satisfactory answer. Instead, she said that she would discuss the matter with lower-ranking officials.
A realistic assessment of the camps, reveal a severe lack of basic amenities, such as drinking water and the trainees are not being provided with sports equipment of a quality commensurate with the fees they have paid. Moreover, as revealed by sources, instead of utilizing the funds allocated for the camp, organizers are merely recycling old, substandard sports equipment.
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A distressed parent said that the government is emphasizing about sports and education to safeguard the younger generation from the scourge of drugs and narcotics like cannabis, but the officials seem to be least bothered about putting the chief minister’s vision into practice.
Children attending government schools are provided with everything from uniforms and textbooks to breakfast and lunch, but when it comes to sports, even basic facilities like drinking water are not being provided for the trainees. Is this the ‘Bangaru Telangana’ that the government is trying to achieve, asked a parent.
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If the officials fail to provide even basic amenities, how can they expect sporting talent to emerge from Telangana? He further asserted that the SATG is not a revenue-generating department but, rather, is a department meant to incur expenditure. Yet, ironically, money is being collected from athletes under a ‘Pay-and-Pla
Swimming trainees at the sports complex are charged Rs 4000
y’ policy in the name of sports development. The ultimate irony is that, despite collecting these fees, the facilities provided, specifically the sports equipment, remain merely nominal and of abysmal quality.
Such happenings are nothing new as similar issues had cropped up in the summer camps in the past too. But with the chief minister expounding, from every podium, that sports should be given top priority by parents, one believed that the officials would make it conducive for the kids to attend the camps.
Unfortunately, those hopes lie shattered.
Fees being charged at the Gymkhana: Cricket, lawn tennis, skating (Rs 2000), basketball, football (Rs 1000), athletics, volleyball, boxing, hockey, handball, powerlifting, kabaddi (Rs 500).
At Sports complex Gachibowli: Swimming (Rs 4000), badminton (Rs 2500), skating, table tennis, cricket (Rs 2000), athletics, basketball, weight management program (Rs 1000), wrestling, boxing, karate, kabaddi, hockey (Rs 500).
At Hussain Sagar (water sports): Rowing, kayaking & canoeing (Rs 1000).
At KVBR Indoor Stadium: Badminton (Rs 2500), Basketball, skating, table tennis (Rs 2000), gymnastics, karate, wrestling, boxing (Rs 500).