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It has been quite some time since a new dispensation took charge at the Bengal Olympic Association (BOA) with high hopes of bringing about a change, keeping with the prevailing trend in Bengal.
Led by Ajit Banerjee, eldest brother of State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as the President, the apex body that has more than 34 affiliated units of various State associations, has done little so far to enthuse the aficionados of sport in Bengal.
The high profile committee, which should be advising the State Government on sports policy and on other developmental activities, had just two executive committee meetings.
Host of issues
A two-member BOA delegation, consisting of the President and one of the vice-presidents, Asit Banerjee, attended a special general meeting of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). These were the activities that the BOA can show for the time being.
However, the President has been having a very active schedule since taking over the reins. He has been attending a number of functions, mostly sports, with unerring regularity.
A proposal to have a Web site of its own where each of the affiliated unit will be given space to publish their association-related information and to organise the State Games were some of the important decisions discussed by the BOA so far.
One of the main election planks on which the present group managed to win over the electorate was major discrepancies in accounts related to the first Indo-Bangla Games as pointed out by CAG.
Surprisingly, the present body is yet to discuss the issue. BOA treasurer, Kamal Bhandari, admitted he was yet to get the documents related to the accounts. “It is not my responsibility to settle those accounts. I expect the previous committee’s office-bearers to submit the audited statement of accounts,” he says.
Another major issue, related to parallel associations in more than dozen associations, needs to be addressed by the present committee. “The previous committee simply slept on the most vital issue. When the new body took over, we had very high hopes of a solution to the most vexed issue. But till now there has been no discussion on the subject leave alone finding a solution,” complained an association official.
It’s time Banerjee and Co took hard decisions that will benefit the State in the long run.
> sabanayakan.s@thehindu.co.in
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