Mr. M.S.Gill, India’s Sports Minister, deserves our special kudos for trying to clean the Sports Associations of India by helping the Association removing the dead wood which they themselves are not allowed to do.
I am amused at the manner in which all the Presdients of Sports Associations of India setting aside their Politcal Party identity came together to protest against the suggestion of our Sports Minister who wanted all the Sports associations to limit the tenure of Presidents to 12 years. It is a very welcome move. It was great spectacle to see the Sports Officials sitting together fuming and fretting, ( unsportsman like ), against the wise suggestion of the Minister.
I always used to wonder how the same person always becomes President in these Associations. We are not allowed to see any other face whether at the national level or International level, when they represent India. Now I know how easy it is to retain “power” by what if I may be permitted to say using one’s “acumen” it is a better word to manipulation. Mr. Arnob Goswami of Times Now used a word “click”. I do not want to hurt those elders and old men who have rendered such yeomen service, in spite of their advanced age and many other activities, to the sports they represent.
We know in our local Associations how a handful of mambers can keep control over any society registered under the Societies Registration Act for years together. In the Co-operative Sector, that is why Government has limited the period to a particular number of years. Whenever these Presidentsare repeatedly are elected, it is said that the members need development and hence they have confidence over the outgoing Committee which is brought back again and again. It is real a matter of shame for the Sports bodies to feel that thay cannot survive without the services of these ‘veteran’ leaders. I really wanted to see how many of them have got pain intheir knees which usually sets in at the age of 60 or so. In fact that is the age when thees people should say that the sports is an acrivity meant for healthy and young and that it should be headed by people who are able to show the enthusiasm required for the game.
The way these Office bearers are campaigning for retaining their power looks as though they are going to lose their fiefdom. i heard one President of some Association claiming that his is the third generation to hold that post. It is a family affair. He is proud to say that!!! Hear Mr. Gill. This further confirms that they have placed themselves in those organizations there so well embeded well or well trenched that not even a machanical crane or JCB can pull them out of the said position. Mr. M.S.Gill has done well because only a Government whip can remove thes dead wood who are clinging on or hanging on those posts for the sake of serving their ego and fame and, name and perhaps for perks which go with those posts. Imagine a person holding a President’s post for nearly 44 years!!! Hats off to such Presidents who can prevent anyone else from getting that post for decades together I think the members must have forgotten that they have a right to unseat the President at the elction!!! What members do not do or are not allowed to do is sought to be done by our Sports Minister. I had my opinion about our Sports Minister because of his age but he has now shown that though old, he has in his heart the interest of the emerging youth power of India. Jai Ho M.S.Gill.