Mid Day
- Former Olympians still waiting for flats promised 18 years ago
Mumbai, Oct 1: Amidst the celebrations at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, one thought that must have crossed the mind of Indian cricket team skipper MS Dhoni would have been his good fortune at not pursuing football.
India’s step-brotherly treatment to sports other than cricket is well-known. Ask Joaquim Carvalho.
The former India hockey player and current coach of the team was allotted a flat under the government quota 18 years ago, as was former hockey player Merwyn Fernandes. All they have been left with now is promises and an allotment letter.
“I am not angry with the cricketers, but all I am asking is why are sportsmen from other disciplines being told to take a back seat? Aren’t we Indian citizens? The politicians are not giving the money from their own pocket, it’s the public money that should go for the right cause.
I have seen cricketers who have played just one or two tests get houses, while we who have represented India at the Olympics are being ignored,” an angry Carvalho said.
Carvalho also reveals how he and Fernandes were asked to pay bribes of Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000 by officials in Mantralaya to get their houses.
“I have spoken to so many chief ministers since 1989. I have also spoken to Sharad Pawar, Sushil Kumar Shinde and others, but till date all I have got are just assurances. Politicians should not try to do cheap publicity,” Carvalho said.
The politicians’ indifference comes to light when one takes the case of Khashaba Jadhav. Jadhav won India’s first individual Olympic medal in wrestling in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, but the only honour he received was the Shiv Chhatrapati award. Incidentally, that award was conferred on him a decade after his death in 1984.
A few wrestlers said that they had heard of the problems Jadhav’s wife faced when she tried to get her sons unsuccessfully admitted into the police force.
Vinay Kore, State Minister of Non Conventional Energy, who is known for ‘promoting’ wrestling in the state was unaware of how the family was faring or whether Jadhav’s son was employed with the state government.
“I will check and let you know in one day,” he said when asked these questions.
A few wrestlers on the condition of anonymity also commented on deputy chief minister RR Patil’s speeches at Wankhede. “When he was waxing eloquent about Pawar, he must not even have known that a policeman in his own department won an Olympic medal.”
Patil was unavailable for comment, in spite of repeated attempts to contact him.
Deserving better treatment
Merwyn Fernandes is a three time Olympian and an Olympic gold medallist at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He has represented India twice at the Asian Games and the Champions Trophy.
Joaquim Carvalho has also represented India at the Olympics. He has been conferred with the Arjuna award and the Shiv Chhatrapati award. He is the current coach of the Indian hockey team. Recently, the Indian hockey team won the Asia Cup under his guidance.
In contrast...