Regularisation: SATS contract coaches elated over CM KCR’s announcement
Hyderabad: Around 29 Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) contract coaches and their families were over the moon with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announcing the regularisation of contract coaching posts as part of jobs notifications announced on Wednesday. A few of the coaches, who were recruited on a contract basis in three matches – […]
Hyderabad: Around 29 Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) contract coaches and their families were over the moon with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao announcing the regularisation of contract coaching posts as part of jobs notifications announced on Wednesday.
A few of the coaches, who were recruited on a contract basis in three matches – 1993, 1999 and 2009, have been serving in the profession for over 25 years. The last time the coaches were recruited on a permanent basis was way back in 1992. Currently, the SATS has six permanent coaches, 29 contract coaches and over 100 coaches on an outsourcing basis.
Speaking on the government’s move, Satya Vania, SATS Contract Coaches Association president said, “I was appointed in the year 1993 and I am serving my 29th year as the handball coach. We are very happy that our jobs are being regularised finally. More than us, our families are very happy. Though the High Court ordered the then government to regularise our jobs in 2002, nothing has been done due to various reasons,” she added.
The 53-year-old handball coach, who is stationed in Warangal currently, added, “There were many people also retired from the profession. Because of meagre salaries, we could not afford a good education for our children. For us, sports is life. I started playing handball when I was eight years and from then, I have spent 43 years on the court. I completed NIS coaching with a gold medal. Still, we suffered due to lack of support.”
Nandakishor Gokul, wrestling coach and the administrator of the Gachibowli Stadium, added that job security was also important for coaches to produce good results. “Over the years, we struggled and staged protests seeking regularisation of our jobs. Finally, the government made a decision in our favour. Like in professions engineering, IAS, IPS or doctors, coaches also need job security. Then only we can produce good results. There should not be contracts or outsourcing jobs. A permanent, contract or an outsourcing coach does the same job but the salaries are different,” added the 53-year-old coach who joined in the 1999 batch.
“Many coaches moved out of our State to join academies in other places. States like Maharashtra is paying good salaries to coaches. So a few have moved out in search of a good life,” he revealed.
Telangana State Sports School weightlifting coach Manikyal Rao, who has been in the field for 24 years, also added that his family is very happy. “I have two kids and providing a good education for them has become a costly affair. At least now, we can afford that. We are happy that the government finally recognised our struggle,” he added.
Meanwhile, L Ravinder, the gymnastics coach and the administrator of the Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy Stadium in Yousufguda lauded the State government’s move. “However, we require at least 350 coaches across the State. With 33 new districts and stadiums being built in every district, each stadium needs at least 10 coaches to run. If we fill those vacancies, then only we can achieve ‘Bangaru Telangana’,” he concluded.
SATS chairman A Venkateshwar Reddy expressed happiness and said the decision of the government will help make State a vibrant one in Indian sports. “Now that these coaches are set to be regularised, there will be more mobility and I hope to see vibrant Telangana in Indian sports. We have made numerous representations to the State government regarding regularisation issue. Now, we are focusing on recruiting around 250 coaches in all districts. Once we implement sports policy, we will fill these coaching posts as well,” he added.
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