Sports Supreme Council Himachal Pradesh

I wrote this letter to the Chief Minister in 2013, there were press reports that the government is contemplating a Sports Bill. A similar situation exists at present. I am not associated with any sports organisation in HP, so I do not have any personal interest. Having been a sportsman in the past, this is my contribution towards a better sporting atmosphere in HP, devoid of any political interference. 

23 November 2013

To,

The Hon’ble Chief Minister

Government of Himachal Pradesh

Shimla – 171002

Subject

A proposal regarding the formation of a Sports Supreme Council (or any other name) under the proposed Sports Bill

Respected Sir,

The Cricket Welfare Forum would like to raise an important issue regarding sports in Himachal Pradesh. This is in the context of the proposed Sports Bill to be tabled in the Vidhan Sabha during the winter session.

The enactment of the sports regulation act in Himachal Pradesh is an emotive issue with the various sports associations. In the past many have opposed the very move of a government control of sports associations. Rightly or wrongly, the positions exist.

We at the Cricket Welfare Forum welcome the enactment of the sports act. We are encouraged by the position taken by your good self that

1)    all sports associations need to be democratic and transparent

2)    a common code of conduct should apply to all sports associations

3)    the government does not want to control these sports associations

4)    these associations do not become personal fiefdoms of any individual,    family or political leaders

5)   and above all, your statement that governments come and go        but the institutions live forever.

6)   your dream of making and keeping the sports associations as               institutions

It is in this context, we write to you today and submit a proposal for the formation of a Sports Supreme Council (or any other name). It is our belief that though the sports associations have to be registered bodies under the Himachal Pradesh Registration of Co-operative Societies Act 2006, especially so because the government aid comes in the form of grounds, money grants, security and other heads, yet the Sports Bill has been drafted by the bureaucracy without any official inputs from the sports associations. Even if it is assumed that the intention of the concerned officers is good and pure, there is always a chance of discrepancies or gaps due to the lack of knowledge of the sports concerned or sports administration. Even though the officials may keep the proposals legally right but some of the individual proposals may be either harmful or detrimental to the sporting atmosphere. In such a scenario the sports associations will not support the proposal and controversy will arise and the matter may go to the courts and all the good intention of the Hon’ble Chief Minister to build institutions in sports may not fructify.

To avoid any such controversy today and in future, we propose a Sports Supreme Council (or any other name). This body could be a committee of all the sports associations registered in Himachal Pradesh under the proposed sports act. There could be an Executive Committee and Office Bearers. The Executive Committee could consist of the ex-officio members from the democratically elected Presidents and the General Secretaries of all the sports associations or alternatively an individual association can send three delegates. The Office Bearers can be elected from this Executive Committee. The benefits of having such an outfit as the Sports Supreme Council (or any other name) are listed below:

1)    This will negate the belief and viewpoint that the government is out to control and pocket all sports associations

2)    This organization will be a bridge between the government and the individual sports associations

3)    The future amendments to the sports act will be recommended by this body. Since this body has a wide representation with different interests, the chance of unscrupulous activity is negligible.

4)    Any untoward situation in the future, akin to the HPCA’s controversial and questionable acts, will be avoided, since an individual sports association wanting some changes in the rules will have to come through the Sports Supreme Council (or any other name)

5)    In any untoward situation in the future, akin to the HPCA’s today, the courts will have a sympathetic view of the proposals of the Sports Supreme Council (or any other name)

6)    This organization can actually become a watch dog of sporting activities in the state of Himachal Pradesh. There will be a larger pool of bright and experienced minds in the matter of sports.

7)    This organization will not only be a deterrent to any individual and unscrupulous intention and activity in any sports association but will also be a deterrent to any government in the future that wants to mess with the sports in Himachal

8)    This could go a long way in creating institutions in sports as the Hon’ble Chief Minister desires

9)    An institution it will be, with checks and balances in place       

Sir, a good system is always a one that incorporates a system of checks and balances. The murky affairs of the HPCA in recent times has given rise to a need for some checks to be incorporated into the sports system in Himachal and to complement the same we hereby propose a balance into the equation. It is our humble submission that this proposal for creation of a Sports Supreme Council (or any other name) be incorporated into the proposed Sports Bill.