MARGAO
Sports Minister Govind Gaude’s promise to clear all pending dues of
athletes and sports associations relating to the National Games before Ganesh Chaturthi has come as good news for a few athletes and associations as others are still awaiting their money.
According to information, some of the sports associations have received part of the funds due to them while some amount remains to be credited into the account for want of documentation and clarification which the Sports Authority of Goa has sought from the respective sports associations.
Of the few sports associations which have received a section of the
funds the Goa Badminton Association (GBA) has gone ahead and paid the Diet Allowance and Travelling Allowance of players who attended the Diet Camp GBA officials said.
“The amount has been credited to all players and officials who took part in the Diet Camp,” Praveen Shenoy, who recently took over as Secretary of GBA and was one of the recipients of the amount as manager of the Diet Camp said.
According to figures, GBA has claimed an amount of Rs 4,70,050 for the diet camp and as travel allowance for 24 players and three officials. One of the players was Olympian Tanisha Crasto, who could not be part of the Goa team on account of the National Games clashing with her international assignments, got her Diet allowance from GBA.
“She was allowed to undertake training at her academy. She was part of the team, but the Badminton event of the Games was preponed by 4 days from the opening day of the National Games and they clashed with her international tournament and therefore she had to drop out,” Dhenoy said about Tanisha.
The GBA has also got Rs 12,76,720 for equipment and Rs 23,48,400 for the residential camp, while another 20% funds of equipment and residential camp are awaited.
“As per the norms, 80% grants were first disbursed and later after submission of final bills 20% grants are released. GBA received 80% grants and submitted bills for disbursement of balance 20%. GBA, however, has disbursed all payments to players and coaches out of its own resources and now await the balance 20% from SAG,” said Sehnoy, while giving an update on the funds received and funds awaited by GBA.
“SAG has sought some clarifications on our documentation and that is being submitted,” he added.
For hockey players, like Riya Salgaonkar and Pandu Sakhalkar, who were dropped along with few others, there is no sign of the diet money for which Goans Hockey has made a case with Sports Authority of Goa.
Riya a women’s team member who played in the National Games and also Pandu’s teammates who did duty for Goa at the Games were supposed to receive varying amounts for the non-residential diet camp.
With no sign of the money, the Goan hockey players had approached SAG about pending dues. Incidentally two officials Beny Viegas and Inacio Fernandes are due to receive Rs 10,500 and Rs 12,950 respectively for the Diet camp held in Margao and Peddem.
Goans Hockey has laid a claim for Rs 8,53,950 as diet allowance for both men and women teams, for 29 member men’s team and Rs 1,93,900 for the 19-member women’s team.
Incidentally, Goans Hockey have received 80% for equipment Rs 20,00,000 and Rs 40,12,800 for the residential camp, with another 20% due to them after submission of bills and with proper documentation.
On the other hand, the Goan Athletic Association, had claimed Rs 2,16,000 for the diet camp and Rs 1,40,000 as traveling allowances for athletes and submitted bills of Shree Om Sai Self Help Group, Raia for refreshments. The residential camp amount of Rs 66,77,400 which is 80% has been credited while the balance 20% is awaited.
However, they are still awaiting Rs 3,56,000 for the diet camp from SAG, while Rs 17,37,922, the 80% for the equipment for the National Games has been received.
Meanwhile the Handball Association of Goa that made a case for Rs 16,20,200 for the diet camp are yet to receive any amount till date.
Additionally, for the equipment and residential camp, GHA has received 80% funding from SAG receiving Rs 2,99,056 for equipment and Rs 68,20,800 for the residential camp.
