the goan I network
PANAJI
The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Goa Sports Ministry for its shabby treatment to windsurfers Dayne Coelho and Katya Coelho, the
only two Goans in the Indian contingent at the recently concluded Asian Games in
Jakarta.
While the Coelho siblings were left to fend for
themselves to get an upgrade of equipment in Jakarta, the State government doled out a whopping Rs 23.55 lakh to Rahul Prabhudessai a few months ago for a failed
attempt at conquering the Mt Everest.
Alleging nepotism as Prabhudessai had not followed proper procedure to claim the funds and got them inspite of it while Dayne and Katya had not received any funding despite getting all the paperwork done.
“How could the Coelho siblings have focused on their sport, when equipment was not even provided to them by the sports authority?” questioned Amarnath Panjikar of the Congress.
Panjikar also explained that Prabhudessai being handed over funds for mountain climbing was only because he was the son of noted Goa Forward Party member and MMC Chairperson Babita Angle.
“According to the procedure, Prabhudessai’s funds should have come through the World Federation,” said Panjikar.
“A five member committee consisting of the
executive director of sports, joint director of accounts, joint director coaching
and two members of the association ought to have
scrutinised the application before deciding whether
Prabhudessai was worthy of being funded,” he said.
According to Panjikar, this procedure was not followed for Prabhudessai.
“Sports schemes need to be for everyone,” said Panjikar, while urging the government and sports authorities
to at least help out the Coelho sibllings in their training
for the 2020 Olympics.
