Panjab University sportspersons to knock at court’s door

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 22

Fed up with false assurances, hundreds of Panjab University (PU) sportspersons have now decided to knock at court’s door for getting cash awards for year 2019.

In a major embarrassment to the institution, which won last two editions of the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy, its sportspersons have not received their cash awards for bringing laurels in international, national, north inter-universities, all-India inter-universities and state championships. Hundreds of players have now sent a legal notice to the authorities, demanding immediate release of the funds.

In September 2020, the former Director Sports (PU) had ensured to have sufficient funds for releasing the cash awards. However, no development has been made to honour the players. Not only the winners, but also the players, who participated in the 30th Summer Universiade (University) Games in Napoli (Italy), are also waiting for the entitled reimbursements since 2019.

VR Sinha, Dean, University Instructions, (DUI), Panjab University, who is having an additional charge of Director Sports, PU, was unavailable to comment on the issue. The Directorate of Sports, PU, organises its annual prize distribution function in the last week of March every year. However, due to the countrywide lockdown, the authorities did not organise the event in 2020. Despite having details of sportspersons, the authorities also did not bother to transfer the prize money directly into the accounts of beneficiaries.

“The university has won back-to-back MAKA Trophy and is behaving in such a cruel manner with its players. We have already sent a legal notice to all officials concerned and awaiting response,” said a player.

Meanwhile, other players, who participated in the World University event, said: “My family took loan to send me to Italy. I was expecting reimbursement soon after returning here. Till date, I have not received a single penny. My family is already under debt.”

“The untimely demise of former Director Sports has also hit our players’ hope badly. The authorities, who are least bothered about running sports administration, are unable to take decisions. There should have been a full-time appointment of an experienced person to run this department. This is no way to treat the players, who deserve cash awards as per the PU constitution,” said a coach.

Notably, the Panjab University Sports Committee, which gets its reimbursements for attending meetings in Chandigarh, is not even bothered to raise the issue with the PU Vice –Chancellor.

“The students went to meet the PU Vice-Chancellor today, but he was not available. The DUI is also not meeting them as he has other work to do. Where should the players go? There should be a way to solve their problem. Giving false assurances is no solution for this,” said another coach.