Horrible, utterly horrible.
On 10/17/14, Sruti disAbility Rights Centre <sruti.d...@gmail.com> wrote: > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Para-athletes-ordered-not-to-speak-to-the-media/articleshow/44845067.cms > > > NEW DELHI: In a shocking case of insensitive and highhanded behaviour by > sports administrators, the Indian athletes going for Para Asian Games in > Incheon (for sportspersons with various disabilities) have been forced to > sign a contract which bars them from going to the media with their > complaints. This gag has been enforced to stop these disabled athletes from > "gaining sympathy by trying to project themselves as victims" through > "frivolous allegations". > > As per the contract, anyone who goes to the media will face a lifetime ban > and those who do not sign will not be allowed to participate in the Games. > > In the section Media Requirements of the contract, a copy of which is with > TOI, it is clearly stated that these athletes face a life ban for flouting > the norms. "We were told we would get out air tickets only when after we > signed these stifling contracts. Some of us protested but there was no > option in the end," said one of the athletes participating in the games. > > The Paralympic Committee of India's (PCI) explanation for taking this > Draconian step is amazing. "These athletes are indisciplined, so this > contract was made to keep them under check," said Rajesh Tomar, the > president of PCI. > > Tomar said that some athletes try to gain sympathy by showing themselves as > victims in front of the media. "It is very important for sportspersons to > be disciplined and this contract will be a psychological pressure. If they > have a problem, they will first have to approach PCI and give the committee > a month's time to probe. > > "This committee is doing so much for these disabled athletes - we organised > a grand farewell dinner which was attended by ministers, they have granted > good allowances during the games and they will also get their sports kits > on time," said Tomar. > > The farewell dinner for all the 90 athletes going to Incheon was held on > Monday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Some para sportswomen have written > to the ministry that they weren't provided with cab facility after the > dinner and they were out on the streets at 12:30 in the night. "The > ceremony got over very late. There were just two taxis waiting outside one > for all the men and women. I had to take an auto at 12:30am for Pahar ganj > from JN Stadium. Some of us have written to the ministry and the committee > but have got no reply," said an athlete. > > Reacting to this, Tomar said only two or three women were left and they > have set up a committee to probe the matter. "Yes, this complaint has > reached us and we are probing the matter. But these women reached home > safely at the end of the day." > > PCI was in news last month as there were reports that the officials were > taking their family members as para athletes' escorts. > > "Now, the names suggested by the athletes as escorts have been cleared for > Incheon," said Tomar. > > Meanwhile, the para table tennis players have claimed they have been given > no escorts. "No escorts are going with us. We have been approaching PCI > regarding this matter for days but to no avail," said Suvarna Raj, a para > table tennis player. > > Para Asian games will begin on October 18 and end on October 24. > > A delegation of 135 people is going from India. > Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > 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. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Clean India Campaign: Let us also chip in! Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in 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. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
