“Treat hockey at par with cricket”
UPA-I & II followed by NDA in next seven years , failed to promote Men's and Women's hockey in the country. They pampered and glorified the elite cricketing community. Hockey was pushed to tertiary state of neglect.
The person behind patronising men's and women' hockey in India, is none other than the quiet politician Naveen Patnaik, CM , Orissa. The state government did not waste time in signing a Rs 140-crore deal in 2018 with Hockey India to sponsor the men’s women’s hockey teams for five years. And, with no publicity.
The hockey players have humble background with meagre resources .The governments and corporate sector must rise to the occasion and donate liberally for them as part of corporate social responsibility. Jobs must also be located for them.
The cricketers are prosperous with several having flourishing businesses. There is nothing against the cricketers. They have brought laurels to the country. But, both cricket and hockey must be treated at par. Discrimination is unfair and divisive.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
The person behind patronising men's and women' hockey in India, is none other than the quiet politician Naveen Patnaik, CM , Orissa. The state government did not waste time in signing a Rs 140-crore deal in 2018 with Hockey India to sponsor the men’s women’s hockey teams for five years. And, with no publicity.
The hockey players have humble background with meagre resources .The governments and corporate sector must rise to the occasion and donate liberally for them as part of corporate social responsibility. Jobs must also be located for them.
The cricketers are prosperous with several having flourishing businesses. There is nothing against the cricketers. They have brought laurels to the country. But, both cricket and hockey must be treated at par. Discrimination is unfair and divisive.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)