http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kanchanmala-pande-sports-ministry-seeks-report-from-paralympic-committee-of-india/1/1000855.html
Kanchanmala Pande case: Sports ministry blames Paralympic Committee of India, seeks report A day after Mail Today reported how para-swimmer Kanchanmala Pande was forced bear expenses during the World Swimming Championships in Berlin, the Sports Ministry sought a report from the Paralympic Committee of India on why sanctioned funds did not reach the para swimmers in time. Rohit Paniker | Posted by Dev Goswami New Delhi, July 13, 2017 | UPDATED 06:02 IST A + A - Kanchanmala Pande Against all odds, Kanchanmala Pande managed to qualify for World Championships slated for September HIGHLIGHTS list of 3 items 1 Vijay Goel seeks report on Kanchanmala Pande case. 2 Sports Minstry says majority of sanctioned money was transferred to PCI. 3 Top Indian sportspersons reacted with shock on finding out about Pande's experience list end Swinging into action a day after Mail Today reported the harrowing experience of Indian para swimmers while competing in Berlin, Sports Minister Vijay Goel has sought a report from Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) within ten days. Goel promised to investigate the matter as to how the sanctioned government funds did not reach the para swimmers on time. Mail Today on Tuesday reported that visibly challenged swimmer Kanchanmala Pande qualified for the World Swimming Championships on the back of an ill-fated experience of having to bear expenses despite having no money and having to pay for accommodation and food. She became the only female swimmer from India to qualify for the World Para Swimming Championships this year. India's top sportspersons from Abhinav Bindra to Mahesh Bhupathi reacted with shock on knowing about the incident and took to Twitter to voice their disgust, asking the authorities to see that such incidents are not repeated. Goel, however, cleared the air in a statement that the funds were released to PCI on June 22 on behalf of the Sports Ministry. "The Ministry through SAI released Rs 3.21 Lakh as 75 per cent of dues as advance payment to Para Olympic Committee of India in time and arranged tickets etc. This amount was transferred in the account of PCI on June 22, 2017. Since the amount was transferred to the account of PCI, the players should not have been put to any hardship," the ministry said in a statement. 'VERY UNFORTUNATE' "In the wake of the news reports Vijay Goel also spoke to the CEO, PCI. They have informed him that for some reasons the money was not further transferred by PCI to the team members. The minister found this as very unfortunate and has ordered that a report from the PCI be sought in the matter within ten days," it added. According to a report, PCI vice president Gurusharan Singh has stated that "the sanctioned amount from SAI came five days before the departure of the athletes but "we could not withdraw the money as Justice (Retd) Kailash Gambhir, Chairman of Committee, was not available to clear the funds." Interestingly, a SAI official confirmed Mail Today that the fund was in fact transferred to PCI's bank account on June 22 - a good ten days prior to the event and is shocked with the federation's denial. "As per the policy, SAI has transferred 75 per cent of the fund allocated for the event to the PCI account on June 22. We also have a receipt for the same. The remaining 25 per cent will be settled after the event, as per our norms. We have our own travel agency from where we book tickets for the athletes so that was already sought. I don't understand why PCI is blaming us for not sending the money on time," said the official on condition of anonymity. Mail Today has a copy of the sanction letter sent by SAI to PCI. HISTORY OF CONTROVERSIES The national governing body is no stranger to controversies, been suspended for almost a year between 2015 to 2016 due to internal conflicts. The ban was temporarily lifted by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) on May 31 last year, clearing way for para athletes to participate in Rio Paralympics. IPC had also made it clear that the suspension can be reimposed if PCI fails to implement the reforms outlined by world governing body. During her troublesome trip to Europe, Kanchanmala, 26, beat the qualifying mark in 100m Freestyle (1:34:00), 100m Backstroke (1:41:00), 100m Breaststroke (2:01:00) and 200m Individual Medley (3:03:00), in which she also picked up a silver medal. Kanchan and her escort Jaimala Pande were part of the Berlin contingent that was granted sponsorship by the government. The PCI failed to provide her the money stating that SAI didn't sanction the fund on time. OUTRAGE Kanchan's story sparked a nationwide outrage, with Indian Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra leading the outcry. "This is UNACCEPTABLE. People must be held accountable. @VijayGoelBJP @narendramodi. A sports legislation which mandates all federations to professionalise is the only way ahead for Indian sport," tweeted Bindra. "Against all Odds has been every sportspersons story in India at some level but this is an all time low. #shameful #disgrace," contemplated India's Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi. IPC vice president Rajesh Tomar also voiced his concerns, calling it an unfortunate incident. "I was shocked to read about it. We as part of the IPC are also looking at the betterment of athletes. It is very unfortunate that such a thing has happened. Hope things get better for us in the future," he said. -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mahendra Galani Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 2:11 PM To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning the disabled. Subject: Re: [AI] Ignored by authorities, Indian para-athlete forced to beg, borrow money in Berlin good luck to her and others for future meets. At 06:12 AM 7/12/2017 +0000, you wrote: >http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-para-athlete-forced-to-beg-borrow-money-in-berlin/1/1000016.html > >Ignored by authorities, Indian para-athlete forced to beg, borrow >money in Berlin >Kanchanmala Pande, one of five Indian para-athletes in Germany to >take part in the Para Swimming Championships, was forced to beg and >borrow money after >the money sanctioned by the government for the swimmers' tour did >not reach them. > >Mail Today Bureau > | Posted by Dev Goswami >New Delhi, July 12, 2017 | UPDATED 05:57 IST >A + >A - >Kanchanmala Pande > >HIGHLIGHTS >list of 3 items >1 >Lapses on part of India's sport authorities left a group of >para-athletes without money in Berlin. >2 >One of the para-athletes was forced to beg and borrow money. >3 >She went on to win a silver medal in the Para Swimming Championships. >list end > >As a para-athlete, Kanchanmala Pande knows well how to swim against >the tide. But this time, she was left high and dry by India's sports >authorities. > >Nagpur-based Kanchanmala, who is completely sightless and swims in >the S11 category, had to face extreme misery during her trip to >Berlin because of alleged >slip-ups by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). > >She and five others participating in the Para Swimming Championships >in the German capital from July 3-9 had a harrowing time as the >government money sanctioned >for their tour did not reach them. > >In the end, Kanchanmala had to beg and borrow money in an unfamiliar >city. The PCI, however, has blamed the Sports Authority of India for the lapse. > >But the situation failed to deter the athletes' fierce >determination. Despite all odds, Kanchanmala and Suyash Jadhav won >silver medals and qualified for >the World Championships. > >Kanchanmala, 26, beat the qualifying mark in 100m Freestyle >(1:34:00), 100m Backstroke (1:41:00), 100m Breaststroke (2:01:00) >and 200m Individual Medley >(3:03:00), in which she also picked up a silver medal. She became >the only female swimmer from India to qualify for the World Para >Swimming Championships >this year. > >The sportspersons have been inspired by India's remarkable show at >the Rio Paralympics last year, where the country posted its >best-ever performance by >winning two golds, a silver and a bronze. > >'NEVER THOUGHT WOULD FACE SUCH PROBLEMS' > >Kanchanmala and her escort Jaimala Pande were part of the Berlin >contingent that was granted sponsorship by the government. However, >the PCI failed to >provide her the money and she was forced to bear her hotel and food expenses. > >"I never thought I would face such problems. I had to take a loan of >Rs 5 lakh so that I could participate in the tournament. I had to >qualify for the >World Championships and I don't know why PCI didn't understand its >importance," Kanchamala, who is also an assistant with the Reserve >Bank of India in >Nagpur, told Mail Today. > >"I was not given any official confirmation if I will receive a >reimbursement for the expense I bore. I had to pay around Rs 70,000 >for the hotel and more >than Rs 40,000 for food. There was a time when I had no money left. >I was simply devastated. Moreover, they put my name in 50m >Backstroke when it was never >my event. I had to write letters to the International Paralympic >Committee when a coach was appointed to take care of the swimmers." > >The swimmers were also asked to arrange their visas, which cost her >additional Rs 15,000. To add to the misery, Kanchanmala, who won a >bronze at the 2011 >World Para Games, was shocked to see that the PCI had registered her >in the 50m Backstroke event when she had actually applied for the >100m Backstroke. > >'HORROR SHOW' > >In her own words, Kanchanmala's Europe trip was no less than a >"horror show". The coach Kanchanmala refers to is Kanwaljeet Singh, >the man sent by the >PCI to assist the para-swimmers. > >Singh was allegedly of almost no help, often going missing during >the main events while also going to the extent of asking for 90 >pounds (Rs 7,462) as >participation fee. > >"He (Singh) didn't help me at all. I used to go back to the hotel >just with my escort and god knows where he used to be. Once, I took >a tram from the tournament >venue to my hotel and I had no money. I had to travel without ticket >and was caught by the checker who later fined me 120 pounds (about >Rs 10,000)," Kanchanmala >said. > >"He (Singh) asked for participation fee from me when it should be >PCI paying for all of this. Even though he paid the fee later, I had >a very rough time >with him. A coach should be helpful and always take care of >athletes. I didn't see any of that." > >BLAME GAME > >However, PCI vice-president Gurucharan Singh maintained that the >Sports Authority of India (SAI) had not sanctioned the amount for >the tournament while >also saying that the swimmers will be refunded their money. > >"We are facing problems from with SAI regarding sanction of amount >for championships. The money for swimming championship in Berlin >didn't come on time >and as the process takes around 3-4 days, we weren't able to provide >it to the swimmers," he said. > >"I am here in London for the World Athletics Championship and we are >also facing a problem of shortage of money. SAI sanctioned just >40,000 pounds (Rs >33.16 lakh) while the organisers are asking for 80,000 pounds (Rs >66.32 lakh). We will hold meetings with SAI officials to discuss >this matter. So, a fix >to all this will be done once the London meet is over. I assure you, >the swimmers will be given back their money. As for the coach >problem, I am not aware >of it. As soon as I get back to India, we will talk to the swimmers >and will carry out an inquiry if needed." > >Despite the frustrations, Kanchanmala fulfilled her dream to qualify >for her second World Championship and wants to put all this behind >as she aims for >more glory in the September meet. > >"I hope a repeat of this will not happen in the future," she said. >"Athletes, especially the disabled, are meant to be treated with >respect and such incidents >shouldn't be tolerated. Now that I have qualified, I want to train >hard and win medals. I am getting to my best and with proper >guidance and training, >hope to have a successful campaign in Mexico." > > >-----Original Message----- >From: AccessIndia [mailto:[email protected]] On >Behalf Of Leikhu Laishram Leingakpa >Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 11:15 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: [AI] Seeking info on braille printing facility > >Dear all >Is there any Braille press which prints Braille books on individual >demand in small quantity, three or four copies? >I came across about such an organisation last year in this mailing >list. But unfortunately I didn't save the information and now can't >find the same in the thread archive too. >Looking for some authentic information. > >Warmly >Leikhu Laishram > >The list has now migrated to www.accessindia.inclusivehabitat.in > >You should now post to the id: [email protected] > > > > >Search for old postings at: >http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > >To unsubscribe send a message to >[email protected] >with the subject unsubscribe. > >To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >changes, please visit the list home page at >http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > >Disclaimer: >1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the >thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates >itself to its veracity; > >2. 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