Merger of J&KSC-YSS in limbo
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 11: The inadequate manpower in the J&K Sports Council is taking a toll on the overall sports activities which otherwise could have gathered swift pace.
There are no more than 300 employees who are currently working in the Council while as this miniscule manpower has to cater to more than 160 playing fields across J&K-leaving a majority of the infrastructure unattended and unused.
The non-availability of the manpower in the Council is leading to the ill-maintenance of the scores of playing fields that have been constructed in J&K over the years after spending crores of rupees.
In December, 2018 there was a proposed move by the Government to merge the J&K Sports Council with the Department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS) which has got enormous manpower in J&K. However, the move has not materialized till date leading to further issues for the employees of the Council.
The sources told Excelsior that the Council lacks the manpower, while it has got enormous infrastructure, as the same time, the YSS has got enough manpower. In combination-which was also the move of the Government-the sports activities could have gathered the pace and the issues of the employees of the Council would have seen a permanent resolution.
It is pertinent to mention here, the Department of Youth Services and Sports has more than 10,000 regular staff, besides 6000 NYCs and 3000 Rehber-e-Khel employees also presently working in the department, while as Sports Council has more than 160 stadiums, playfields and Indoor Sports Halls but has less employees to look after the infrastructure and to monitor the all Sports activities of different Sports Association and Organizations of the UT.
“While the administration is not only day by day augmenting the Sports facilities and infrastructure in the UT, but is very eager to look forward more and more youths may get involved with the sports activities,” an office bearer of the Council told Excelsior.
However, it has turned out to be difficult for the Sports Council with having inadequate number of employees to maintain these huge sports infrastructure besides to monitor and organize sports activities in the UT.
They further said that the undue delay in the merger of the Sports Council with the Youth Services and Sports is proving to be detrimental for the sports activities to gather pace in J&K, while also adding an array of issues being faced by the employees.
Pertinently, the employees currently working in the Council are also struggling for the pensionary benefits to be extended to them. As per the office bearers of the Council, they have been struggling with the issue for last more than 23 years.
“Finance department cleared the issue in 2006; even three Cabinet memos were issued back in 2014; but again, the Finance department raised certain objections, making the issue to linger more,” they said, adding that if the merger would have been materialized, all the issues would have seen a permanent resolution.
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