MARGAO
Goa Taekwondo Association (GTA) has claimed that Sports Authority Goa (SAG) needs to pay an outstanding amount of approximately twenty-five lakhs towards participation of the state team at different nationals for the five years and is hopeful that the pending grants towards the various National championship from March 2019 will be cleared shortly.
“Of the four of the last five years, except for Covid pandemic Taekwondo Association of Goa has sent state Taekwondo team for participation at 12 different National championships, consisting of Sub Junior, Cadet, Junior and Senior categories,” said Rajan Naik, Secretary of GTA.
Elaborating further on the pending grants he said: “We have submitted applications for 80% grants in advance but no grants were released, after returning from championship we have claimed for full settlement of grants, but SAG has not released us any funds since 2019.”
Explaining the tight situation the association and its office bearers are caught in on account of SAG not clearing the dues, he said the office bearers had to literally beg and borrow from well-wishers and parents, he said.
“We have sent the teams for nationals by borrowing the money from well-wishers and parents of players, however it is not possible to ask each and every time for funds to send the team for nationals, when we are owing them money for a long period and they are demanding their money back,” he added.
On the personal front Ranjan had put in his own money to fund the players' trips for the national championship.
“I have myself have spent nearly four lakhs from my personal account towards booking tickets to send the teams for nationals, assuming it will be refunded at an earliest, " he said.
“Approximately twenty-five lakhs are to be received from SAG from 2019 towards National participation and annual grants to the Association. We have approached the SAG many times and requested them to release some funds so that we can send the team for Nationals, every time the reason given is funds will be released soon.”
He was hopeful that the pending dues would be released. “We hope that we will get the grants at the earliest.”
CLARIFICATION REGARDING GRANTS OF LAST FIVE YEARS AND SPORTS MINISTER REPLY IN ASSEMBLY
Clarifying on the sports minister's reply in the assembly on the grants given for the sports associations for the last five years he said: “We wish to clarify on SAG reply in Assembly regarding grant given to Taekwondo Association of Goa the first grant to the tune Rs.1,00,000.00, mentioned is the annual grant for the year 2018 and the second grant received amounting to Rs.4,36,338.00 is for the year 2021-22 are towards the National team participation for the year 2018-19 i.e upto March,2019, balance grants have been not released by SAG some are for the year 2018 and prior to that,” he said.
National Games 2023
Regarding the National Games fund, he said the association has refunded over Rs. 8 lakhs funds back to SAG and is awaiting Rs.10.50 lakhs for the day-camp expenses while another Rs.3 lakhs is awaited for the equipment purchased for the National Games.
“For the National Games SAG has given grants amounting to Rs.58.59 lakhs. Rs.35.00 lakhs for the residential camp we have incurred an expenditure of Rs.26.27 lakhs and balance of Rs. 8.73 lakhs have been already refunded back to SAG. For equipment an amount of Rs.23.90 lakhs have been sanctioned, balance of Rs.3.00 lakhs are awaited,” Rajan said.
“For the day camp amount of Rs.10.50 lakhs are not paid by SAG. We have submitted bills to the National Games Account of SAG, however they have raised some minor observations for residential camp, which are under compliance,” he added.
