New Delhi: In a recent controversy, Congress MP and former captain of the Indian Hockey team, Pargat Singh, has called for greater transparency and fairness in the allocation of sports funds. He emphasized the need for an unbiased approach that ensures all states, regardless of political leadership, receive equitable support for sports development. has accused the central government of unfairly allocating sports funds to states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Singh claims that BJP-ruled states receive a disproportionate share of resources, leaving opposition-ruled states with inadequate funding.Taking to social media platform X , Singh wrote, “Despite sending 48 athletes to the Paris Olympics, Punjab and Haryana received Rs 78 crore and Rs 66 crore, respectively, while UP and Gujarat, sending only 9 athletes, got Rs 438 crore and Rs 426 crore. Is this not a biased distribution How long will the BJP continue this discrimination against states”Despite sending 48 athletes to the Paris #Olympics, Punjab & Haryana received ₹78 crore & ₹66 cr, respectively, while UP & Gujarat,sending only 9 athletes,got ₹438 crore & ₹426 cr. Is this not biased distribution How long will BJP continue this discrimination against states pic.twitter.com/j9lkHOUvpk— Pargat Singh (@PargatSOfficial) July 29, 2024Disparities in Fund AllocationA list of the states and Union territories where money were given for the construction of sports infrastructure under the Union governments Khelo India Scheme was also shared by the Jalandhar Cantonment MLA. The majority of the Rs 2,168.78 crore allotted under the scheme went to Gujarat (Rs 426 crore) and Uttar Pradesh (Rs 438 crore), two states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, Punjab only received Rs 78.02 crore, while Haryana received Rs 66.59 crore.Punjab has 19 athletes and Haryana has 24 athletes out of Indias 117-member Olympic team these two states have the greatest state-wise contributions. In contrast, just two athletes from Gujarat and seven from Uttar Pradesh are competing in the Paris Olympics. The sports ministry has been given a budget of Rs 3,442.32 crore by the Union government this year. Khelo India, the present governments flagship program for encouraging grassroots sports, has received the lions share of the sports budget. The sports ministrys budget for this year is somewhat more than the previous years, which was Rs 3,396.96 crore. Khelo Indias budget has been increased by Rs 20 crore.The alleged biased distribution of funds has far-reaching implications for athletes and sports development. States with insufficient funding face challenges in providing adequate training facilities, coaching, and support for athletes. This could potentially impact the performance and competitiveness of athletes from these states at national and international levels.Call for Transparency and Fairness
