Publication: Economic Times Mumbai; Date: Oct 4, 2009; Section: Spl Report; Page: 9
‘I AM THE LAST BATSMAN IN’
HE is known for his candid and hard-hitting approach, which has made him the centre of one controversy or the other. His knack for blunt comments may have landed him into trouble many a time, yet sports minister MS Gill refuses to mellow down. A mountaineer by passion, he says the only way CWG’10 can be organised successfully is through effective leadership. In a free wheeling conversation with Aman Dhall & Shantanu Nandan Sharma, he compares his current status to a tailender batsman in cricket who has to score runs so that his team can win the match. Excerpts:
Did the same delays and problems exist when India hosted the Asiad in 1982?
It’s a long time back, 28 years have gone by. The magnitude of the games was much smaller in comparison to the current job in hand. Yet all of us who witnessed them admire the manner in which they were organised. Credit must go to the then incumbent government. Rajiv Gandhi was very much present taking a great deal of interest. Any bottlenecks, delays requirements were taken care of promptly. Then home minister Buta Singh with a team of 20-odd officers made sure that deadlines were achieved.
What are the issues now? And what is the role of sports ministry?
In our structure of government execution, we have multiple authorities, multiple interest, multiple strings all merging into a pullover. While we admire other countries, we must understand that these games are differently organised. These were signed back in 2003. That government was in-charge. I am in this business since April 6, 2008. I am really Johny come lately — that’s what I am. Whole process is divided between different organisations.
About nine major stadiums are to be done by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) funded by the SAI and supervised by the sports ministry. When I came last year, three of the stadiums had not even been thought about being started. There were ideological issues between federations, various authorities and organising committee. These were swimming, shooting and cycling stadiums. I immediately sorted out the issues and got the work started. As of now, I am the last batsman in. I have no option but to score 20-30 runs not out so that my team wins by one wicket. I am not good enough as a batsman since 10 chaps want to catch me. I cannot take risks and have to score my runs in singles. That’s where we are.
Surely you cannot escape the responsibility, but what is the way out?
The only way to do it now is through leadership. I believe those engineers. All the stadiums are now getting built at a great speed. We will get it done. Architecturally, the swimming stadium will be a stunning structure. It’s a challenge, it will take time.
Since last year, we have strengthened the financial controls. Then we have a Commonwealth co-ordination committee where top officials from government, organising committee and different authorities sit like professionals every month. We discuss as equals, item by item. What action has been taken, what to do now, what are the important points.
In fact, Sheila Dikshit is also running round and round. She and I are two sides of the same coin. While she is the face of Delhi, I as the sports minister represent the government of India. No matter who is responsible ultimately everybody is going to question — mantri ne kya kiya, sarkar ne kya kiya (what has the minister done, what has the government done). That’s how democracy works and beyond that media doesn’t analyse.
What about the training of athletes?
To get the athletes ready, last year we got the Cabinet to sanction Rs 678 crore, which is a lot of money. This amount is for the period of two and a half years and only for coaching. Ministry has never had spent such kind of money ever. And we have chosen without delay about 1,300 sportspersons who will represent the country in the Games. I had made it clear to federations then I don’t want to get noises from anywhere that you have been unfair to any boy or girl. Until now, nobody has come and said there was partiality in selection. That’s been a satisfactory part. We have appointed 13 foreign coaches. We are making sure athletes get foreign exposure, never mind the current restriction on ministers.
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