Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Dec 19: Sports events are generally organized to motivate the youths for sportsmanship and to give them opportunities to show their talents on bigger platforms. But at Great Nicobar Island for a cricket tournament the Panchayat Secretary of Govind Nagar Gram Panchayat is reportedly demanding Rs. 5000 as entry fees.
Earlier, the GP Govind Nagar had announced a T20 cricket tournament which is scheduled to start by 30th December, 2021 as per corrigendum no. 2-31/Genl/Notice/GP/GN/172. Dated 15th December, 2021 in which it was written that the winning prize would be Rs 20,000/- and the entry fee for the tournament will be Rs 5,000/- per team.
In this regard, The youths of Govind Nagar Panchayat had approached the District Youth President, Indian Youth Congress Mr. Rahul Singh, regarding the outrageous high entry fee for the tournament as most of the players of the existing cricket teams are unemployed or have very low income sources which is why it is difficult for them to pay the entry fee.
By considering the demands of youths, the District Youth Congress Committee met the Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay, Mr. Adithya Kumar Asthana on 16th December and requested him to reduce the entry fees to an affordable amount by which the underprivileged youths will get a chance to play the tournament.
Further, they mentioned that previously many such tournaments were organized by Government establishments like AC Cup, which is the biggest tournament of Great Nicobar and is conducted by AC Office, Campbell Bay and they never charge any amount from any team, then why the Gram Panchayat Govind Nagar is charging such an exorbitant entry fees.
“It known to everyone that matters regarding this tournament and the entry fees were not passed in gram sabha meeting and without the permission of the special officer, how the Panchayat Secretary has decided the entry fees for the tournament,” questions a villager.
As per details, even after several youths and Youth Congress has raised objections in this matter the Panchayat Secretary of Govind Nagar is adamant on charging Rs. 5000 as entry fees, for reasons best known to him.
“This is a matter of serious concern, as a Government Servant, who has such an important role to play in development of the Panchayat, is now indulging in money matters. Such unruly behavior is unbecoming of Government servants. Further, the constant insistence on entry fees of the cricket tournament by the Panchayat Secretary raises many questions,” alleged a youth of Great Nicobar.
Lack of elected PRIs is the main reason for unchecked actions of such government servants.
IYC, Nicobar District and Mr. Gagandeep Singh Grewal, ex-Up Adhyaksh, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman told Andaman Sheekha that they stand for conducting this tournament at free of cost, if not, affordable entry fee to promote sports and sportsmanship among the youngsters of Great Nicobar.
