By IANS,
New Delhi:In a sudden decision which will have far reaching consequences, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has decided not to receive any financial help from the union government to maintain its “autonomy”.
IOA secretary general Randhir Singh, in a letter dated March 31st to Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar, said: “The autonomy of National Olympic Committee of India and the Indian Olympic Association is supreme. The IOA would like to desist from receiving any further financial support from the government from the financial year 2010-11.”
“We thank the government for their financial support to the Indian teams.”
The letter, which was circulated to media Monday, was sent to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports a day after it issued an order asking all national sports federations (NSFs) to immediately designate Central Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities as required by the RTI Act.
IOA was reportedly unhappy with the ministry’s interference in its day-to-day functioning.
The government declared all NSFs receiving grant of Rs.10 lakh or more as a ‘Public Authority’ and under the RTI Act, 2005, after taking into consideration various issues, including the fact that the NSFs are doing a ‘State’ function of preparation of national teams.
The Delhi High Court Jan 7 passed the order that IOA and the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) come within the ambit of the RTI Act.