‘Make hay while the sun shines’ seems to be the buzzword for several paper organisations in Kerala, who are trying to siphon money kept aside to promote sports in the state ahead of the National Games. One such instance is of the fund transferred to a nonexistent academy to promote table tennis.
Documents reveal that the Sports Department sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to Table Tennis Academy, Thiruvananthapuram, a decision which was taken at a meeting on January 25, 2013 presided by then Sports Minister K B Ganesh Kumar. It was the first instalment of the proposed Rs 30 lakh for the academy and the money was released as per a government order dated March 27.
The Sunday Standard found that such an academy does not exist in the state capital and there is no registered organisation either in the name. When contacted, the officials of the Sports Council as well as the Kerala Table Tennis Association denied hearing about any such academy.
They also say lack of proper screening of organisations would further result in financial misappropriation ahead of the National Games.
SAS Navas, secretary, Kerala Table Tennis Association (KTTA) and secretary of Regional Sports Centre, Kochi said that he was unaware of any such academy and the fund released by the sports department to the Thiruvananthapuram-based Tennis academy.
Meanwhile, the district wing of the state Sports Council is also under the dark regarding existence of such an academy and the fund released to it. Also, after the resignation of KC(B) leader K B Ganesh Kumar as the Sports Minister the UDF Government is yet to fill the post.