Every elected MLA does something worthwhile for the constituency because their motto is to keep the people of their constituency happy to make sure that next election they retain their seats. But here the case is extreme, according to the news published by the local daily TOI the news journalist Marcus Mergulhao writes that “This is a good time to start a sports club in Canacona and organize a tournament of your choice. You can be assured of lavish and unquestioned financial assistance from the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). Whether you are organizing a taluka volleyball tournament, interward football tournament or even having an annual sports day of your club, the SAG seems to be in a jolly good mood to provide you with finances.”
The credit of all is given to the Goa’s Sports Minister Ramesh Talwadkar who represents the Canacona constituency and according to the sources SAG (Sports Authority of Goa) is following blindly all the orders given by the sports minister. The question in this regards have been surfaced by the Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai along with Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal, both of the considered to be the vocal critics of the ruling government.
According to the information furnished by MLAs, the SAG has provided financial assistance to 79 clubs & organizations out of which 23 were alone from Canacona in year 2013-14 and 2014-15. Further surprisingly majority of them have not been registered with SAG. The organization called Canacona Prerna Manch have been provided with financial assistance twice totaling to Rs. 4,72,843 to organize Canacona Taluka Mega Football League, another club named Indreshwar Youth Club have been provided grants for two consecutive years to organize Tennis Ball cricket tournaments.
Due to available grants on wholesale basis the sports enthusiasts are mushrooming in the Taluka and the sports like Football, Volleyball and Cricket seems to be getting popular in the constituency. Some of them have testified that the funds are available easily and checks getting issued soon. Shree Malikarjun Sports and Cultural Club have been issued the check for Rs. 1,26,400.
Talwadkar has clarified that there is no special criteria to issue the grants to the clubs and organizations saying that “Scheme to provide special grants is being framed and under consideration of the government.” He also pointed out that “Special grants have not been given to the organizations. But financial assistance (is) released to various institutions as special case on the basis of the popularity of the institutions/sports clubs.” For the purpose of record, none of the clubs from Canacona patronized by Tawadkar are known beyond the boundaries of the constituency.
Fatorda MLA also brought to the notice of the house that SAG did not provide any financial assistance to the Cuncolim Union Club which is considered to be Goa’s most popular most popular clubs who organizes the All India Volleyball Tournaments where the best teams from all over India participate. He also clarified that SAG provided the fund only for one year saying that there is no policy to help second year.
According to the further information provided by the Fatorda MLA, Star of Bhatlem Sports and Cultural Club, Mencurem, were gifted an alarming Rs 2,25,000 to organize an All Goa volleyball tournament, while 10 other clubs have been helped for two consecutive years. The SAG also has no hesitation in funding non-recognized tournaments. Panaji-based Yuva were paid Rs 41,200 to organize an All Goa six-a-side tournament, while tournaments organized by Mulgao Friends Circle and Santissmo Boys of Taleigao were also not recognized by the Goa Football Association. All Goa Tchoukball Association, headed by BJP’s Sanguem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, received Rs 5 lakh organizational grant despite not being registered with the SAG.
THE LIST OF CANACONA BENEFICIARIES
Shree Vital Mahadev SC Rs 58,820
St Anne’s Cultural Troupe Rs 80,000
Young Challengers SC Rs 50,000
Canacona Prerna Manch Rs 1,22,843 and Rs 3,50,000
Sidhivinayak SC Rs 36,000
Almost Famous SC Rs 32,000
Agonda SC Rs 40,000
Sunshine Art Cultural & Sports Rs 80,000
Indreshwar Youth Club Rs 40,000 and Rs 80,000
Akhil Goa Bhumitra Kshatriya Komarpant Samaj Rs 96,000
Shri Kulgati Purush Krida Kala Rs 71,460
Tiger Sports Club Rs 61,980
Pansulem Brothers SC Rs 1 lakh
Loliem-Polem Village Panchayat Rs 84,040
Nagarsem SC Rs 23,600
Shree Malikarjun SC Rs 6,400
Yuva de Cola Association Rs 2 lakh
Masters Club Rs 26,400
Shree Nirakar Youth Rs 77,520
Nirakar SC Rs 20,000
Young Maratha SC Rs 77,660
Sangharsh SC Rs 80,000
Khotigao Kala Krida Rs 80,000
Indreshwar Youth Club Rs 80,000
Source: TNN