As the National Games to be held in Uttarakhand approach, there is concern about the state of the infrastructure required. Some of it is incomplete, some yet to be built, while much of it is in poor condition, or has not been in use for as long as a decade and more. Of particular note is the fact that the toilets in almost all of the sports facilities are non-existent or in a bad state. What does that say about the priorities of those in charge?
It is not as if money has not been spent on building this infrastructure over the years – it is just that the main concern seems to have been something other than ensuring it serves its purpose. The tendency to approve and go ahead with projects that cost a lot, irrespective of the actual requirements for that particular discipline, indicates the focus has been on other kinds of returns. The fate of the ice-skating rink in Dehradun is just one example. It is not as if a system could not have been adopted to keep it functional, such as getting Dehradun’s numerous schools to send their students on different days of the week to learn the sport. But financial provisions were not made for that. Once the money was spent, interest was lost in its fate. Similarly, the International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun has been unable to serve its defined purpose.
Has the state learned any lessons from the numerous fiascos? The national games will involve further such investment in Uttarakhand’s sports future but is it in tune with an overarching philosophy on benefiting the state’s sportspersons? If the same approach is adopted on neglecting construction of good quality and easily maintained toilets, it would imply that the priorities remain the same as before. Regardless of how much money is allocated, the effort will be to trim the edges as much as possible.
Unlike before, media and other kinds of scrutiny has increased enough to expose such doings more thoroughly. The government and the Sports Ministry would be well advised to ensure the standards are as required and there is a policy in place for future use of each specific facility. It must begin with the infrastructure that has already languished for a long time. It is true that institutionalised corruption is difficult to overcome, but the times have changed and failure to do so can have serious political consequences.
