Extravaganza of ASIAD Games would have been a mockery of the poor of India
I am greatly relieved that the ASIAD Games bid by the Government of India has failed. I know, I am inviting the charge of being anti-patriotic and sports spoiler, but I feel so strongly about it that I am prepared to take the risk of being so charged, which in fact is not true.
Let me at once disabuse anyone of my being anti-sports. In my college days in 1945, I was Triple holder of Punjab Tennis championship. So at best my bonafides should not be suspicious.
My opposition arises from the perversion of priorities shown by official agencies to complete insensitivity to the real problem being faced by the masses, and a readiness for an unconscionable reckless expense which could and should be utilized for the upliftment of millions of poor. The canard that ventures like Commonwealth or ASIAD Games add to development of infrastructure in a city and to the encouragement of sports amongst the mass of poor people is puerile and not borne out by actual experience.
We had ASIAD in eighties. But the sports victories have not improved. Stadiums have remained unused for years and then put to use for non-sports activities, and even for temporary residence of security forces.
The schemes for Employment Guarantee Scheme is being reduced to 100 days of employment in 200 districts rather 200 days in all 500 districts as was originally announced. The apparent reason being shortage of funds. But this contrasts so embarrassingly with the open offer by Association to give couple of million dollars to each of the participants. The poor in the country should be thankful that in this game of bribe prone incentives, we were out bidden. The lament of the organizers that a terrific blow has been struck at the sports climate in the country is phoney. Our sporting spirit is such that in spite of our credible proud record of cricket championship victories in the past, we bay for blood of our fine team because they got out from the World Cup.
The canard that these games help in developing cities, especially Delhi is belied on the face of it. None of the expense on previous ASIAD has relieved the poor of his housing needs – Delhi is reeling under electricity breakdown and shortage – water is not available even for two hours in most of the localities – half of Delhi is without toilet, and water taps at home.
Of course, we have added five star hotels and malls – they only create an illusion of development. The only worthwhile and pro masses development is the Metro and that has nothing to do with the infrastructure conceived by the game clique.
Our country has officially over 301 million people below the poverty level – which in reality means capacity per individual to spend daily only Rs.12 (in rural) and Rs.18 (in urban), if unofficial modest figures of Rs. 820 p.m. was taken as poverty level, and only 10% of the country’s population would be above the poverty level.
With our overwhelming mass of people growing under such gruesome deprivation, the effort of organizers to purportedly call these Games as beneficial to the people, reminds one of the circuses held by last of Roman Emperors and suicidal strain of Queen Marie Antoinettee, who chided the starving mob who were protesting at lack of bread by shouting that if they do not have bread-let then instead eat cakes.
It is fallacious to assume that holding ASIAD Games in the present circumstances will enhance the prestige of India amongst the comity of nations. Have the organizers not heard that there are now arranged for foreigners, ‘slum-tours’, meaning visitors are taken to our shanties, and filthy dwellings of the poor. The answer to that is not to waste resources in ornamental ASIAD Games, but to open more schools, reduce malnutrition amongst children, and provide sports facilities and libraries and common rooms in the poor localities, give training to the young hopefuls, have in-charges who are sports persons and not political favourites, out to capture funding and enjoy foreign jaunting. While 3 billionaires in Forbes fortune get headlines in all news media, but only a passing reference is given to the fact that the average number of years that a child goes to school is between 3-4 years. 300 million are unemployed/ employable and only 45 million have actually registered with employment offices with little or no hope of getting employment. World Bank’s definition of @ US $ 1 per day per person, or US $ 365 per year is the extreme poverty line. Only 5% of Indians understand English, yet most of the websites of the Government of India, State Governments and Public Institutions are in English!
The number of very poor (i.e. below the poverty line) was 115 million in 2004-05. Rs.57,000 crores (25% of cost of our Indian bureaucracy) if saved, could bring everybody above the poverty line. I therefore, beseech governments to work towards that end – say good bye to holding the Games for two decades. The debate on this matter has to be done with an open mind and not in the false premises of country’s honour.
Too often, we have seen these officials and sporting enthusiasts in Government, going on extended holidays abroad, all in the name of seeing how various foreign countries had made preparations when they held the Games – the group included officials who had nothing to do with preparation for Games and were actually due to retire on return. We also have vivid instances of how our potential young sports-persons, when taken abroad were put up in dormitories in low priced motels, while the managers, the official coterie (many of them may not even be knowing the technique of the game) holidaying regally in five star hotels.
Enough of hypocrisy and wasteful expense at the cost of our young sportsmen and sportswomen – divert this money to train/equip them, give them equipment on a worldwide standard, ensure their career, and let sportspersons of recognition be in-charge; throw off the yoke of transitory politicians and free the sports from the stranglehold of bloated bureaucrats
(none of whom could even distinguish a penalty corner from a head hit.) The recent tragic shooting by a University student in USA giving vent to his frustration at the vulgar display of Mercedes wealth by co-students should give a warning to our so called ASIAD Game enthusiasts that poverty cannot be wished away by the Roman Circus of ASIAD Games. Poor will no longer tolerate the vulgar display of extravaganza of Games to satisfy the vanity of well-connected, while denying him the common necessities and asking him to continue wallowing in poverty and filth.
