JAMMU, Nov 13: Taking cognizance of Newspaper reports and complaints from parents, Associations and Sports Council members, the Government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged refreshment scam and mishandling of National Camps by the officials of Sports Council in Jammu.
Reports close to J&K State Sports Council Secretariat establish that taking strong note of the bunglings going on in the routine of things in Sports Council, the office of Sports Minister, Imran Raza Ansari has directed the Secretary Sports Council, Wahid-Ur-Rehman Para to look into the matter, who in turn appointed his Chief Sports Officer (CSO) and deputed him to Jammu.
It is pertinent to mention here that the scam was unearthed during Judo and Wrestling Camps held at Jammu.
Sources reveal that the Chief Sports Officer during his stay at Jammu enquired the matter from various stakeholders ranging from the caterers, parents, office bearers of the Associations and council officials at Jammu.
“The CSO in his inquiry has established that there was a major refreshment scam prevailing in the Sports Council Office Jammu in connivance with the top brass office bearers of Council in Jammu,” sources added.
In view of the statements made by Joint Secretary, Jammu, Parents of the trainees, caterers and the Chief Accounts Officer, it transpires that Sports Officer Jammu, coaches and the Joint Secretary have escaped from their official responsibilities with regard to conduct of coaching camps and providing of refreshment to the trainees in time.
The inquiry report duly signed and countersigned by the CSO and Secretary Sports Council respectively, suggests framing of a five member committee comprising of members and officers of the Council to streamline the existing procedure for conduct of coaching camps prior to participation in Nationals.
The report further suggests that the committee will also enquire to how the accounts of the coaching camps were admitted by the Accounts Section without the counter signatures of CSO as well as non-issuance of formal sanction orders of such camps in terms of Sports Council Order No 512 of 2015 dated 02-12-2015 and subsequent communication No SC/634-A/5530-34 dated 12-01-2016.
When contacted, Secretary Wahid-Ur-Rehman Para said that the Council will send the report to Administrative Secretary for further action. He, however, denied having received the report when the copy of the report lying with EXCELSIOR shows Para’s countersignatures in the report.
“How humiliating is it that on one hand, the Government takes all the initiatives to enhance the refreshment charges for the sportspersons with an aim to promote sports and sportspersons in the State and on the other hand, people are waiting in the wings to pool money from the refreshment of the players,” said a Member of Sports Council while expressing anonymity.
“In such a scenario, expected improvement in the standard of sports in Jammu and Kashmir is simply to cry for the moon. (Source: Daily Excelsior )
Sports Council’s inquiry report indicts officials in refreshment scam
