SAG not following procedures: PBC and EBG NT Sports Reporter
Panaji, March 29 The Panjim Badminton Club and Evening Badminton Group today alleged that though recrutiment to all posts in government, quasi-government, statutory bodies, boards, etc should be done after folllowing established procedures the SAG did not follow them in Mr Roshanlal Nahar's case when offering him a contract job as badminton coach with SAG after his superannuation in SAI last year (March 2007). Mr Sandeep Heble, joint secretary PBC and EBG, disclosed at a press conference here that as per the circular of Goa Government issued on August 18, 1998 based on Supreme Court of India's observation, it was necessary that the post be advertised even if it was on contractual basis. Further, he pointed out that as per the Goa Government circular dated May 4, 2005, the government had decided to terminate all extension/contract appointments with immediate effect and that those who are on contract should be relieved immediately after following the procedure. "Consequently, the question of granting contractual offer to Mr Nahar for another year, does not arise at all as the first one itself is irregular," he remarked. Mr Nahar ceased to be an employee of SAI on March 31, 2007 when SAI did not grant him an extension. However, the SAG offered him a new job on a year's contract, which means a new job was offered to him, Mr Heble remarked. "What procedure and what are the services rules followed in the case," he questioned. Hence, he said, Chief Minister Mr Digambar Kamat has been asked to institute an inquiry into the matter. Mr Heble said that the SAG was not following proper procedures in disbursing TA/DA to government officers from SAI. He produced official documents from SAG stating that the regional director of SAI who was on a visit to Goa from 24-12-2005 to 27-12-2005, was entitled for TA/DA from his department (SAI) since he was from the Central Govt cadre. The SAG accountant had stated: "However, as per the prevailing practice, the visit of SAI officials was treated as VIP's visit to the state and they have been provided with all sorts of such facility by SAG." The accountant's observations were agreed to by the SAG Vigilance Officer who remarked: "The SAI director on visit to Goa is entitled to TA/DA of his government who sent him on official tour to Goa and that if his government refused to pay him, then the Goa Govt could pay him provided he had visited Goa at SAG's request. In case, the SAG has paid these types of charges in the past as stated by the accountant, then the SAG has committed irregularities of Government money. The claim does not fall within the rules and therefore cannot be accepted". Mr Heble pointed out that the bill of Rs 9071 was certified by Mr Nahar and that originally it was approved by SAG'ED. He, however, could not throw light if the amount was actually paid or not thereafter, but pointed out that the procedures were not as per the rules. Mr Heble refuted Mr Prabhudesai's observations that Mr Nahar had rendered great services during the nationals held in Goa stating that coaching was entrusted to coaches Vinayak Kamat and Roy Athaide while Mr Nahar was named as manager, which post he he did not accept and as such did his duty as joint secretary in organisational matters which is basically the work of the association. State champ Govind Navelkar, acknowleged that Mr Nahar was his "guru" but that he had nothing to offer at advance level for seniors, which is the reson for stagnation, and hence the need of fresh air and a fresh coach. He pointed out that the Goa women's team in the last nationals had just one player to show in Sonali Gaocar and that the other player U-16 Ronika Bandodkar was listed as the second player even as the latter had announced that she could not participate in the event and as such never attended the coaching camp. Surprisingly her name appeared in the list, he added and divulged that Ronika did not turn up at the nationals and that her opponent was awarded a walkover. That apart, he stated that Sonali had no partner in the doubles event in the absence of Ronika. Mr Shashant M Naik, president of PBC and EBG, a former state player pointed out that the performance in badminton has not shown any improvement over the years. "Moreover, we have not even reached the quarter-finals at senior nationals since the start and there is no such a hope in the future under the present dispensation. The job of the coach is to train, motivate players and not be part of organisational matters. It is for this very reason that certain officials of Goa Badminton Association had sown the seeds of revolt against the particular coach about four years ago. The goal of the coach is to guide the players without looking at their background, using polite language and manners and be available when they need help," Mr Shashant observed. Badminton needs a whiff of fresh, reinvigorating air, he summed up. Link: http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=03302
