Not To Equivocal Attempts Only, But To Grassroot Prospectives Also

Gyanendro Ningombam *

Grass-root football development programme at Artificial turf, Lamlong in September 2013 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam / Harnet Phanjoubam

Recognising the sports achievers of north east region alone will not be enough in taking the sports forward. Development scheme needs to be channelized to avoid pretty ends ..

While State Government, State Association, Local organizers and Sports enthusiasts of the entire North East Region are pouring cash awards, appreciations, acknowledgements and accolades to the sportspersons of the region who brought laurels of the country in the XXth Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland and 19th Asian Games, Incheon in South Korea, we have had another cheerful moment when General(Retd.) Dr. VK Singh gave away cash awards to medal winners from the NER in a befitting function held at IGNCA ground, New Delhi on 8th November 2014.

The historic award ceremony “ North East Council Chairman Sports Award” for excellence in International and national sports meet by sportsman/sportswomen from the region was attended by Sh Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of State Home Affairs, MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Sh R Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Development of NE Region. It was a fascinating moment for all sports lovers of the region. The scheme “Chairman of sports awards” was inducted by the ministry of Developments of NE Region in the year 2008-09 with an objective to incentivise and recognise the efforts and contribution of sportsperson in winning laurels for the nation and promote sports in the region in particular.

Under this scheme winners of the Olympics, an amount of Rs.40 lakhs for Gold medal, 20 lakhs and 10 lakhs for Bronze medal to the sportspersons from the region. And for winning in Asian games cash award of 10lakhs for Gold, Rs 5lakh for Silver and Rs. 3 lakhs for Bronze medal. Altogether 16 sportspersons including Olympic Bronze medallist Mary Kom from this region who made India proud in the recently concluded XXth Commonwealth Games (9 sports persons)and 19th Asian games 2014 (7sportspersons) respectively were felicitated and handsome amount of cash award were pour in to these sportspersons

One note, which is very interesting to all of us is that out of 16 achievers from this region 15 are from Manipur, a season that we can presume as the best that produced the biggest shake up in the history of sports in Manipur with a large exclamation mark. That 8 sportspersons from the state of Manipur excelled 1 Gold,6 Silver and 1 Bronze in Commonwealth Games and the 7 sportsperson also excelled 3 Gold and 4 bronze in the Incheon Asiad 2014.It is a marvellous and impressive stateliness for which people of this tiny sports loving should always proud of.

Let us now deliberate how sports enthusiasts of the region would have greeted these sportspersons terming their outstanding performance and chivalrous that herald yet another beginning of sports moment in the region. The landmark and success, in fact, would also be a huge turn around in term of popularising sports more and more where youngsters are always accustomed to taking up sports as a career .And in turn of it would also be a source of inspiration for organizers in taking up huge task in developing sports in a scientific-oriented manner in order to ensure the prospective in the region.

But to my continued stint in the sports journalism I must salute here that by giving cash awards, acknowledgement and recognition only will not enough to bring region’s sports forward unless we accumulate hand to hand ground work of nurturing talented youths in a systematic manner. And before this or at this point kit will be wrong concept to endorse any kind of optimism.

Again, when we talk of development all thinkers, bureaucrats, planners, and organisers become very puzzled rather than talking tall. From this instances all villages, sub-divisions and districts in the entire region are still in pretty bad shape for not developing any infrastructure either good or bad for putting such talented youths into exposure for such a long time- why ? Are they pulling string or doing all works under bureaucrats confines ?

Why are the people of some particular places said to be the hub of sports in the region unhappy about the lack of facilities or infrastructures ? Why are there rumblings everywhere on the poor initiation over development of sports by the departments or other organisers ? Why is the Government not able to take proper attention in developing sports infrastructures and play fields to each and every villages of these hub areas ?

Why do we see this type of communication gap between sports loving people, players /youths and Government at all.?taking the talented youths into field is the only major to bring sports forward in the region. Therefore we need to slog out or to take up any possible measures to prove that the region is the only power hose of sports in the country.

People expect more development in sports .On this aspect we need a pragmatic evolution in the region. Donor, State Govts, state associations and organisers even co-operate houses if any should come forward and keep their thoughts towards development of sports in the region. Would not Doner or State Govts be able to take marvellous role in making clear accentuate the apprehensions of the people over keeping development plans undone for a pretty long-time in order to ensure the region to become the “Mecca” of sports in the country.

On creditability of sports development and integrity of utilizing the proper process of nurturing talented youths (Discipline wise) either in a Academy or in a permanent coaching center (may be set up at any suitable place of the region) which is now under cloud of doubt-the Donor, state Govts .needs to carry out the task under a concrete plan urgently and immediately.

To set up states run academies or regular coaching centres means youths will be derived from availing the much needed infrastructure and the can learn basic in their formative years. It will not only ensure a professional approach but also infuse a method to marshalling a player to international standard. But the of establishing healthy youths to youths relation through sports in the region with a special focus on development in sports sector it is regretted that even after years of founding the Donor-state sports departments, lack of initiation to translate any proper scheme or vision on sports development into reality has been a serious setback for the people of this region.

The other thing that we would like to reflect upon is that Is there any scheme for long term policy to address on the related issues in a well co-ordinate way or would a group of opinion be saying that there is, at this point of time no such scheme or plan being taken up from which we can expect the future of the youths from this region? Therefore –to ensure proper field and infrastructure and equipments in the nook and corner of the region will be a befitting tribute to youngsters. This is the time . It is now or never.